The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) administers general appropriation funds designated for the purpose of supporting the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act for Local-Responsible Offenders (CCCA) and the Pretrial Services Act (PSA) as discretionary grants to local units of government.
Local community-based probation agencies were created in 1995 by the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act (CCCA, §9.1-173 COV). They were created to provide an alternative to incarceration for persons convicted of certain misdemeanors or non-violent felonies for which sentences would be 12 months or less in a local or regional jail. Local community-based probation services agencies provide the following services: community service; home incarceration with or without electronic monitoring; electronic monitoring; and substance abuse screening, assessment, testing and treatment.
Pretrial Services were first created in Virginia in 1989, pursuant to authorizing language in the Appropriations Act. In 1995, Pretrial Services Agencies were authorized by statute with the passage of the Pretrial Services Act (PSA, § 19.2-152.2 COV). Pretrial services agencies provide information and investigative services to judicial officers (judges and magistrates) to help them decide whether persons charged with certain offenses and awaiting trial need to be held in jail or can be released to their communities subject to supervision.
Only county or city governments are eligible to receive CCCA and PSA grants. Private organizations may receive grant funds only through contracts with local governments for probation services. Each applicant is required to have an active Community Criminal Justice Board (CCJB) to serve as an advisory body to the local governing body on matters pertaining to local criminal justice issues. The composition of the CCJB is specified in §9.1-178 of the Code of Virginia.
Agencies are encouraged to work with each other and within their local criminal justice system to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their services. Agencies are also encouraged to create partnerships with community organizations beyond the criminal justice system for the purpose of education, collaboration, and inclusion in the decision-making and planning process.
Pretrial Services Act Reports
Contact Information
No coordinator assigned. Please contact a grant monitor below for more information.
Training Coordinator