The First District Court Service Unit provides domestic and delinquent intake services, juvenile probation and parole services to the City of Chesapeake. We also partner with the Chesapeake DHS Department of Community Programs to provide diversion and truancy services. We welcome and appreciate the support of volunteers to assist with probation and parole in the capacity of unpaid internships for educational credit.
For youth on probation and parole, court service unit staff have access to a variety of contracted services including assessments and evaluations, individual therapy, family therapy, substance abuse treatment, therapy for youth with sexualized behaviors, and life skills coaching. CSUs access these services through DJJ's contracted regional service coordinators. A directory of services available through DJJ's RSC Model is available at Evidence-Based Associates.
Our mission it to provide services to children, youth and families to prevent or reduce juvenile court involvement, while increasing community awareness of issues facing youth and families though advocacy and education.
We serve Chesapeake Youth under the age of 19 who are before the court for Truancy, first offense misdemeanors, and who are on probation. We also serve as advocates for children and youth who have been abused and neglected to ensure they have a home free of further trauma.
Our youth need adults who can be a positive light in a life that only knows darkness and a sense of failure. Volunteers serve as mentors, case managers, advocates, program facilitators, panel members for conference committees, and assisting with community service projects. Volunteers are needed weekdays, evenings and weekends.
Internships - placement opportunities for undergraduate and graduate level students. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of experiences in the juvenile justice system including intake processing, social history preparation, probation case management, direct care services, parole planning, and court procedure.
In addition, students and volunteers are needed for:
Community Service: youth work under the supervision of volunteers to benefit their neighborhoods or community while completing the community service hours required.
Court Appointed Special Advocates: CASA volunteers advocate for children who have been abused and/or neglected.
Truancy: maintains a coordinated interagency response to truant youth while providing volunteers to monitor and case manage these youth.
Virginia Teens and the Law: a law related education program offered by the Office of the Attorney General that educates students and their parents about Virginia’s laws and the short and long-term consequences for violating such laws.
Department of Human Services Division of Community Programs: Community Service; Prevention and Education Programs
