The Virginia Juvenile Justice Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is 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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  * ​JULY 21 - 25, 2025 *
VJJA Proudly Recognizes PRE-TRIAL, PROBATION and PAROLE SUPERVISION WEEK!

Join us as we recognize the significant contributions of pre-trial, intake, probation, parole, and community supervision professionals. The duties of community supervision staff are varied, challenging and rewarding. These dedicated professionals serve as agents of change and provide public safety by delivering individual and group-based interventions, while also monitoring juveniles and holding them accountable for their behaviors.   

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We are pleased to announce that as part of VJJA’s 20th year celebrating Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week, there will be a host of online and in-person activities throughout the state throughout the week, including our annual daily prize lottery and new this year — VJJA PPPS SPIRIT WEEK and a “Dog Days of Summer” Pet Photo Contest! ​

​As community-supervision professionals you play a significant role in intervening with and helping to improve the lives of court-involved youth. Your dedication as behavior change interventionists, skill coaches and prosocial models does not go unnoticed. This is just one small way for VJJA to say, thank you for the important work that you do, not just this week but every day!

Stay tuned for more details to come and in the meantime, show your team spirit during this year’s Spirit Week and be in the running for Prizes for Best Dressed!

Themed Spirited Dress Days

  MONDAY - “Men in Black” / “Women in Black” Day (Black and White Day)

  TUESDAY - “Mad for Plaid” and “Seersucker” Day

  WEDNESDAY - “Seeing Stripes” Day

  THURSDAY - "Leopard and/or Other Animal Print” Day

  FRIDAY - "Workplace Logo-Apparel" Day

Post individual and group pictures throughout the week on VJJA's Facebook page and/or your own Facebook or Instagram Page. Be sure to use the hashtags:  #VJJA  #PPPSWeek2025  #PPPSWeek

(Special Note: Be sure while showing your team spirit you are also staying within the dress code of your company or agency).

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

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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.