A panel discussion with:
- Supervisor Kenny Boddye, Occoquan District PWC
- Jeffrey S. Homan, Director 31st District Court Service Unit DJJ
- Greg Porter, Intake Supervisor 31st District Court Service Unit DJJ
- Dee Kirk, Northern Regional Program Manager DJJ
- Courtney S. Tierney, Director of Social Services Prince William County
Historically, court-involved youth were treated much like adults, serving their sentences in prison-like settings, with little focus on providing the treatment and training that could help them successfully transition after release. During this town hall, hear how the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is using its Transformation Strategic Framework to break that paradigm, with a focus on diversion programs, trauma-informed treatment and education.
The new new Juvenile Services Campus in Prince William would support these initiatives, with a homelike environment and detention alternatives that are more conducive to rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. Additionally, with fewer youth now entering into detention—in 2017, 80% of Virginia court-involved youth were eligible for diversion plans—the new facility would be smaller, potentially co-locating with counseling and additional services.