The Virginia Crime Prevention Center was established within DCJS in 1994, by an act of the Virginia General Assembly § 9.1-158 Code of Virginia. It is housed within the Law Enforcement Services Section. The purpose of the Center is to provide crime prevention training, technical assistance, resource materials, and research. The Center is managed by Assistant Section Chief Tami Wyrick, 804.786.5664 or e-mail.

In 1995, the Criminal Justice Services Board approved the center's Comprehensive Crime Prevention Plan for Virginia. It addresses professional standards for crime prevention, community involvement, the analysis of crime data, school/youth safety, serious juvenile offenders, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), workplace violence, travel safety, and intergovernmental collaboration. It serves as a blueprint to guide crime prevention training, technical assistance, program development, and funding opportunities in Virginia.

The Crime Prevention Center has worked in cooperation with the Virginia Crime Prevention Association for many years to distribute more than 100,000 crime prevention brochures, and 4000 crime prevention program guides annually. VCPA is a private, not-for-profit corporation. Jointly sponsored crime prevention training is conducted for more than 600 crime prevention practitioners across the state. This partnership has also produced a Crime Prevention Standards document (.pdf or .doc, 16 pages) for use by law enforcement agencies to start new crime prevention programs; a crime prevention awards program and an annual conference for approximately 200 of Virginia's crime prevention practitioners. For information on these programs and conference details, go to the VCPA website at http://www.vcpa.org.

Among the Center’s current programs and services:

Crime Prevention Specialist (CPS)

A milestone for crime prevention in the Commonwealth was reached in 1994 when the General Assembly established the Crime Prevention Specialist Certification Program (CPS). The program builds on a strong partnership between DCJS’ Crime Prevention Center and the Virginia Crime Prevention Association (VCPA). VCPA members form the applicant pool for the program. The program is one of only 4 in the country, and is designed to recognize accomplished professionals in the field of crime prevention by establishing minimum standards for training and experience. Since its establishment, about 625 practitioners have received the specialist certification.

In 2002 the General Assembly expanded the scope of the CPS program to provide the opportunity for certification of non-law enforcement professionals. This includes individuals involved in school security, public housing security, crime prevention practitioners at Virginia’s military bases, and state agencies such as the DCJS, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Transportation and others. Visit the CPS page to learn more about the program and to download the guidelines and applications.

Certified Crime Prevention Community Program (CCPCP)

In 2000 DCJS launched the Certified Crime Prevention Community Program. The main goal of the program is to publicly recognize and certify localities that have implemented a defined set of community safety strategies as part of a comprehensive community safety/crime prevention effort. To obtain certification, a locality must meet 12 core community safety programs and standards augmented by a minimum of seven approved optional programs either proffered by the locality or selected from a list provided by DCJS. The program is a tool to enhance the marketing of economic development and tourism in localities. It also strengthens the professionalism of city or county management and local law enforcement agencies by showing that the locality can meet rigorous standards related to community safety. There are currently 10 localities that have received this certification. View the Certified Crime Prevention Community page for more information.

Crime Analysis

Crime Analysis is a set of systematic analytical processes directed at providing timely and pertinent information relative to crime patterns and trends. It is used to assist operational and administrative personnel in law enforcement to plan the deployment of resources for the prevention and suppression of criminal activities.

In Virginia, the growth of current crime analysis programs began in the late 1980’s when crime analysis was included as one of the approved program categories of the Byrne Grant Program. Between 1993 and 2001, the Crime Prevention Center trained more than 350 crime analysts representing more than 50 localities from all regions of the Commonwealth.

In 2000, the first Crime Analysis Vendor Fair was held, promoting networking and product information sharing among the state’s crime analysts. In 2002 the agency spearheaded the formation of an association for crime analysts which became the Virginia Crime Analysis Network (VCAN). Currently more than 100 people representing 40 different jurisdictions are a part of VCAN.

School and Youth Safety

The crime prevention center has also had a key role in issues relating to school and youth safety. The center continues to work closely with the Virginia Center for School Safety (VCSS), a governmental unit established by the General Assembly in 2000. VCSS is also housed within DCJS. One such important collaboration with VCSS involves public secondary school safety audits. Center staff works closely with the VCSS to design the process and collect school safety audits, as well as to review the audits and input pertinent data into a database. The CPC also works with the VCSS to develop school safety audit training for local school divisions.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

DCJS helps promote CPTED in Virginia by supporting the Virginia Crime Prevention Association which conducts classes in Basic CPTED. DCJS also supports the Virginia CPTED Committee by providing a representative on the committee and providing resources. DCJS has trained over 300 people in "CPTED & Schools" which has included planners, police officers, school officials, School Resource Officers, arborists, landscape architects, architects. DCJS will continue to promote and support CPTED training, resources, and other initiatives relating to this program. View the CPTED page for more information.