Founded in 1966, the Virginia Juvenile Justice Association is an organization comprised of professionals from court services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, indigent defense, the judiciary, secure detention, juvenile correctional facilities, halfway houses, group homes, social services, private providers, and others with an interest in youth and family services.  The organization is administered by an elected board of directors and is committed to child advocacy and advancing the professional interests and competencies of its members. 

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We Believe in a Juvenile Justice System that ... 

• recognizes that adolescents are not yet who they will become and are capable of change
• differentiates between criminal/delinquent acts and normative adolescent acting-out
• uses proven models, strategies, and approaches
• presumes innocence, protects liberty and justice, and affords due process of law
• ensures community protection and holds adjudicated children accountable for their actions
• weighs heavily decisions concerning the deprivation of liberty and favors the least restrictive means necessary to achieve public safety
• is free from racial, ethnic, and gender disparities and exercises objective decision-making as a means to ensure fairness and equity
• relies upon data to measure progress and guide policy, practice, and programmatic changes
• promotes professionalism, collaboration, integrity, accountability, and transparency among key stakeholder agencies
• provides services relative to risk level, arranged in a continuum, and consistent with the principles of effective intervention
• favors fiscal responsibility and accountability to be good stewards of scarce resources
• does no greater harm, limits exposure to risk, and exceeds minimum standards
• routinely reviews policies, practices, and programs for quality, consistency with stated goals, and the ever evolving science of our field

WHAT WE DO

Awards & Recognition--Colleagues are recognized in a regular newsletter feature, “Colleagues in the Spotlight,” and celebrated during “Probation, Parole and Community Supervision” week and “Detention, Residential and Correctional” week.  The association also recognizes members who have made extraordinary contributions by awarding Meritorious Awards in the Areas of Community Service, Court Services, Residential Services, and Administration.

Professional Development--The Fall Juvenile Justice Institute is the organization’s premier professional development event, attracting participants from throughout the Commonwealth and presenters from across the nation.  Single day training events are also held throughout the state.

Resources / Publications--Information on proven models, promising approaches and effective strategies is disseminated through print and web-based forums and list-servs.  The Advocate, a professional newsletter, has been published since 1975.

Scholarships--Renamed in memory of Robert E. Shepherd, Jr. and Rodney C. Hubbard, the Association awards professional development scholarships to obtain new credentials, to attend specialized training, for academic courses, or to attend state and national conferences.

Advocacy--From promoting proven practices to tracking legislation, our organization has a proud history of advocating for system-involved children.