What We Do

• The DCJS Law Enforcement Services Section provides policy, planning, technical, financial, crime prevention, agency accreditation, homeland security and other support services to Virginia's law enforcement community.
• It DOES NOT have any legal standing or exert any influence with regard to individual criminal or civil cases.
• It DOES NOT deal with questions concerning law enforcement training records or law enforcement officer certification. The latter two areas come under the mission of the DCJS Law Enforcement Standards and Training Section.
• Section Organizational Chart (.pdf, 1 page)

Policy Development

• Sample Directives for Virginia Law-Enforcement Agencies, a compilation of operational and administrative orders to help agencies develop their own policies
• Provide training in policy development

Administer Grants to Law Enforcement Agencies

Review and monitor grant applications in the following programs, and provide technical assistance to applicants and grantees:

• Edward M. Byrne Memorial - Justice Assistance Grants
• School Resource Officer grants
• Virginia Community Policing Grants

Accreditation

• Assist and promote the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) in the Virginia accreditation process for law enforcement agencies.
• Administer daily activities in support of the VLEPSC program, coordinate short and long range planning, and provide training for the law enforcement community in accreditation management and assessment, and related areas

Develop & Deliver Specialized Training for Law Enforcement Agencies

As needed

Management Studies

Upon request, staff members will research, analyze, and make non-binding recommendations on specific management issues or on the overall management practices of law enforcement agencies.

For further information, contact the Law Enforcement Services Section or view the Frequently Asked Questions page on Management Studies.

Crime Prevention Services

Administer the Certified Crime Prevention Communities program and certify Crime Prevention Specialists in law enforcement. Provide specialized training in a variety of law enforcement crime prevention topical areas, including homeland security prevention and readiness training. A wide variety of crime prevention services, including training, is available through:

• Virginia Crime Prevention Association

Bias Based Policing

Bias-based policing (BBP) is a term that refers to any form of bias, whether racial, religious, gender, age or sexual preference, that one might encounter from law enforcement officers during the performance of their duties. The term racial profiling is a similar concept that refers to the narrower bias of racism. Governor Warner made the elimination of bias-based policing a commitment during his election campaign, and then followed up after assuming office with a Governor's Advisory Panel on Bias-Based Policing. This Panel, enacted House Bill 1053 (2002 General Assembly) which called for creation of a statewide model policy on BBP and the implementation of appropriate training standards for law enforcement officers. The Panel completed its work in 2003 and their Final Report is on the DCJS website: Report of the Governor's Advisory Panel on Biased-Based Policing.

Following the work of the Governor's Advisory Panel, DCJS awarded a grant to Auburn University Montgomery, Center for Government and Public Policy to conduct a study of bias-based policing in Virginia. This study proceeded with the full cooperation and assistance of the Virginia law enforcement community through the Virginia Sheriffs' Association and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. The study was intended to help establish some sort of baseline measurement of the perception of bias in police practice and behavior in the Commonwealth. The results of that study were released in March 2005 and may viewed on our site.

DCJS is actively pursuing its legislative mandate to assist law enforcement with policy development and training initiatives intended to root out such bias where it may exist and to neutralize the impact of bias where it may be present but not known or understood. For information about this work, contact Tim Paul, Section Chief, Law Enforcement Services Section, at 804-786-2407 or by e-mail.