The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has built a continuum of services to address the need for public safety, address criminogenic needs, hold juveniles accountable, and are evidence-based. The Department is committed to achieving its transformation goals in the juvenile correctional center (JCC) and operations with (i) smaller, treatment-oriented facilities, (ii) more appropriately geographically located facilities, and (iii) statewide alternatives to placement in a JCC. During the 2016 General Assembly Session, the General Assembly approved budget language, which authorized DJJ to reinvest operational savings from the JCCs into the development of community-based services and alternative placements.
Community Placement Programs or CPPs are housed within local detention homes and provide multiple structured rehabilitative programs for juveniles commited to DJJ. The programs are highly structured residential programs based on evidence informed interventions that address specific criminogenic needs and risk factors and include community reentry planning. Programs use the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI) as the basis for case planning to address crimogenic needs. CPPs are located regionally throughout the state so that residents will be closer to their home communities. The programs focus on positive youth development, and increasing competency in the areas of education, vocational preparation, life and social skills, thinking skills, employability skills, and anger management. Based on evidence and research, we know that positive youth development promotes success and reduces recidivism rates.
The participating JDCs are:
Male and female (Merrimac CPP and Northern Virginia CPP only) juveniles:
CPPs provide programs for juveniles that are both indeterminate and determinate commitments. Upon agreement to placement, the case will be referred through DJJ’s residential case management system. All placements will have final approval by the residential case management system.
Each CPP has a full time dedicated case manager assigned to provide services solely to CPP juveniles. The case manager is responsible for maintaining a collaborative partnership with the parole officer and Central Admission and Placement (CAP) counselor, developing and maintaining the CRCP, ensuring the oversight of service provisions, providing behavioral re-direction interventions and modeling pro-social behaviors. The CPP case manager, in collaboration with the parole officer, maintains a YASI driven CRCP for each juvenile.
Referrals to the CPP program are made by the CAP Manager or designee based on the juvenile’s identified needs, consideration of responsivity factors, and geographical location. Juveniles assessed as being low or moderate overall risk will be prioritized for placement in an alternative setting which may include a CPP. High risk juveniles are assessed on an individual basis and may be referred to a CPP when determined that placement in a smaller milieu will best meet their individualized needs. Upon agreement to the placement, the case will be referred through DJJ’s residential case management system.
The detention facility provides the following in their CPP:
The CAP counselor is responsible for presenting the juvenile’s case at ICRC/CCRC for approval of off-campus trips or furloughs.
The CPP must request approval for each off-campus trip a minimum of 48 hours prior to the trip through the CAP Manager, including the specific date, time, address(es), and staffing details prior to each off-campus trip. The CPP should also provide alternative dates/times in the event that there are weather or staffing changes that prohibits the CPP from utilizing the original date/time.
All juveniles leaving the facility for an off-campus trip must be supervised by at least two (2) trained staff members at all times (sight and sound supervision). One (1) staff must be of the same gender as the juvenile. Juveniles should be provided appropriate community clothing to ensure they are not readily identifiable as a resident of a juvenile facility.
Juveniles may be approved by ICRC/CCRC to participate in work assignments and/or educational programming off-campus in accordance with DJJ procedure VOL IV-4.1-4.10 (Work and Education Release Program).
Juveniles shall be eligible for release based on the following criteria: