Authority: §§ 16.1-278.8, 16.1-285.1, 66-13, 66-16, 66-18, 66-19, 66-22 and 66-25.1, Code of Virginia.
A. The Department of Juvenile Justice shall retain all funds paid for the support of children committed to the department to be used for the security, care, and treatment of said children.
B. The Director, Department of Juvenile Justice, in response to the continuing downward trend of the juvenile population and requirements imposed by the federal government, is directed to implement the downsizing and repurposing of its juvenile facilities. It is anticipated that by relocating the juveniles at the Culpeper Juvenile Correctional Center, the agency will be able to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations and enhance the services provided to juveniles committed to state facilities in the areas of education, re-entry, mental health treatment, health services, and various other programmatic areas.
C. Included in the appropriation for this Item is $3,906,720 and 72 juvenile correctional officer positions in the second year from the general fund to meet requirements of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
D.1. The Director, Department of Juvenile Justice, (the “Department”) shall develop a transformation plan to provide more effective and efficient services for juveniles, using data-based decision-making, that improves outcomes, including reduced recidivism, and to reduce the number of juveniles housed in state-operated juvenile correctional centers, consistent with public safety. Prior to implementation, the plan shall be approved by the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. A progress report on actions taken and additional recommendations under consideration shall be provided no later than June 30, 2016 to the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, the Chairman of the Virginia Commission on Youth, and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees.
2. To accomplish these objectives, the Department will provide, when appropriate, alternative placements and services for juveniles committed to the Department that offer treatment, supervision and programs that meet the levels of risk and need, as identified by the Department's risk and needs assessment instruments, for each juvenile placed in such placements or programs.
3. The Department shall reallocate any savings from the reduced cost of operating state juvenile correctional centers to support the goals of the transformation plan including, but not limited to: (a) increasing the number of male and female local placement options, and post-dispositional treatment programs and services; (b) ensuring that appropriate placements and treatment programs are available across all regions of the Commonwealth; and (c) providing appropriate levels of educational, career readiness, rehabilitative, and mental health services for these juveniles in state, regional, or local programs and facilities, including but not limited to, community placement programs, independent living programs, and group homes. The goals of such transformation services shall be to reduce the risks for reoffending for juveniles supervised or committed to the Department and to improve and promote the skills and resiliencies necessary for the juveniles to lead successful lives in their communities.
4. The Director, Department of Planning and Budget, is authorized to transfer appropriations between items and programs within the Department of Juvenile Justice to reallocate any savings achieved through transformation to accomplish the goals of transformation.