CCCJB Highlights and Accomplishments
There are several specific achievements our Colonial Community Criminal Justice Board (CCCJB) has accomplished since its inception. Some of the highlights and accomplishments are included below:
Criminal Justice Planner
Due to the vast purpose and responsibilities of our CCCJB, the members decided that they had a need for a Criminal Justice Planner to act as staff to the Board. The Criminal Justice Planner position serves to assist the CCCJB in its planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of any activities it embarks on. Although our CCCJB is state-mandated, our CCCJB is not funded by the Commonwealth. Any endeavors undertaken by our CCCJB must be paid for by the localities served or via grant funding. Therefore, included in the Planner's duties is finding grant funds for CCCJB initiated projects.
The Criminal Justice Planner position was originally funded through an Edward Byrne Memorial Grant in 1996 for a four-year term. Beginning July 1, 2000, the six localities served by our CCCJB (James City County, Charles City County, City of Poquoson, City of Williamsburg, New Kent County, and York County) will fund the Criminal Justice Planner position.
The initiatives and achievements of the CCCJB are continuous and therefore, the following is only a sample of the many.
Education of Alternative Programs:
The Juvenile Justice Sub-Committee (JJSC) hosted an educational presentation of Rite of Passage Program for the committee and the CCCJB in June 2008. During the summer of 2008, this program was attempting to take lead in the first area in the state of VA, Suffolk and was applying with the Virginia State Department of Juvenile Justice Agencies regarding funding and referrals/placement. The presentations were led by the East Coast Admissions Manager, Ron Westphal. Ron presented on behalf of the West Coast 25- year-old Residential Program, the new Evening Reporting Centers, Community Mentor Programs, Community Transition Programs, Program-Centered Transition and Aftercare Programs and Day Treatment Centers. The program development is known as Ritetrack, which establishes a structured academic environment and innovative interventions in a community setting. The program focuses on Aggression Replacement Training (ART) and Cognitive Restructuring, Parenting and Multi-family groups, Community Service Programs, Restorative Justice Programs, and Substance Abuse and Relapse Prevention Courses. The Program-Centered Transition and Aftercare category assists with the transition phase back into the community such as Job Readiness Assistance, Post-Secondary Financial Aid, Employment Linkage, Community-Based Mentoring and Case Planning. The Evening Reporting Centers are designed to make productive use of the high crime period of 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday thru Friday by establishing supervised structure. This program combines education, counseling, athletics, social engagements, community service, individualized tutoring, case planning, cognitive behavioral interventions, and community-based transition and aftercare. For additional information regarding the programs, scholarships and admissions please visit http://www.riteofpassage.com.
Gang Training:
The JJSC has been instrumental in organizing, implementing, and evaluating GANG Trainings and Community Forums for all CCCJB localities. These trainings were developed for school officials, police officers, and human services agencies to include mental health, criminal justice, and other professionals and community members. These trainings offered Career Development Hours accredited by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
On June 25, 2008 at Warhill HS in Williamsburg, VA, a Gang Intelligence Webcast, sponsored by NIC and co-facilitated by JCCPD and YPSO, provided area law enforcement officers, correction officers, and criminal justice professionals with state-of-the-art gang intelligence training. Other Community Forums were the Oct. 1, 2008 Gang Forum facilitated by JCCPD in Williamsburg VA., during which all localities were represented. As a continuation of the Oct. 1, 2008 Gang Forum, the Gang Forum Part 2 was organized and held on Dec. 16, 2008, in New Kent County. The December Forum was made possible through collaborative efforts between the New Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond Police Department, York Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, James City County Police Department, and representatives of the JJSC. The fourth training event occurred on Feb. 20, 2009, an 8-hour training was held in space donated by the Clarion Hotel in Williamsburg, VA. This event, available to all professionals throughout the state of Virginia, provided 182 attendees with more than 1,450 hours of DCJS-accredited CEUs, including career development, cultural diversity, and legal hours. Facilitators were Sgt. Dennis Ivey and Capt. Frank Crotty of York Poquoson Sheriff’s Office along with Don Rimer, a 33- year veteran of the Virginia Beach, VA Police Department and an internationally recognized authority on Ritual Crime & The Occult, who also serves as the Public Information Officer and Chaplain of the VGIA. Sheriff Danny Diggs of York Poquoson Sheriff’s Office provided the opening statement for the event. Financial support of this event was made by YPSO, CCCJB, and in-kind by the Clarion, YPSO, and CCCJB. Concluding the event, WAVY-TV Channel 10 did an exclusive feature story regarding these issues that aired in March 2009. WAVY also posted CCCJB Planner Griffith’s interview on line along with the interview with facilitator Don Rimer and trainee District 34 Alaina Rojas.
Restorative Justice Practices:
Through funds made available by Williamsburg Community Health Foundation, the JJSC sent six committee members to attend the Annual Virginia Restorative Justice Conference in Charlottesville, VA, on Oct. 20, 2008. The attendees and Juvenile Justice Sub-Committee members created a focus group named, Restorative Justice Working Committee. This committee has met with Jamestown High School administration, counselors, security officers, 9th grade teachers and SROs regarding the initial Restorative Justice Process. The committee organized and lead training sessions on Restorative Justice Circles and Conferencing at Jamestown High School on June 19, 2009. They have also developed a training curriculum for a potential half-day workshop for all schools in August 2009 on Restorative Justice Circles and Conferencing. For additional information regarding Restorative Justice Practices, please go to www.iirp.org or contact Leah Griffith, Criminal Justice Planner at LGriffith@james-city.va.us.
Therapeutic Graduate Outcome Study of VPRJ:
This study is supported by the College of William and Mary through the Institutional Review Board (IRB) as of January 2009. The purpose of this outcome study is to determine the impact of the VPRJ Therapeutic Community (TC) Program on the participants. The four major outcomes being evaluated by the CCCJB and CSB include: 1) if the inmate’s involvement in the TC program reduced their involvement in the criminal justice system; 2) improved their employment status; 3) stabilized their housing; 4) and reduced/eliminated their substance abuse. The population for the study will include male inmates of VPRJ who participated in the TC and successfully completed the program between 2002 and 2007. Data will be separated by such demographics as age, gender, and race, and the categories of arrests, employment, housing, and substance abuse.
City of Poquoson Community Heroin Forums:
CCCJB members collaborated with the Historic Triangle Substance Abuse Coalition (HTSAC), the Poquoson Police Department, the Norfolk Methadone Clinic, the College of William and Mary, and the Poquoson Food Lion, providing a series of community forums focused on heroin use, addiction, dependency and recovery. These forums were made available to all CCCJB localities, professionals, community members, families, and clients. The free forums were accredited by Thomas Nelson Community College, with those who attended able to earn 1 hour of continuing education unit free of charge. Additionally, news articles have been published in The Virginia Gazette (March 2009), and The Williamsburg Health Journal (May 2009).
Public Awareness/Community Services:
The CCCJB Planner assisted James City County/Colonial Community Corrections with the completion of the County CCC/CCCJB 2008 and 2009 Annual Report. In collaboration with the Webmaster, the Planner consistently updates and maintains the CCCJB’s website, which includes information for the general public, government agencies, and clients. The Planner also coordinated plans by many agency members of the CCCJB-represented localities to attend trainings and conferences. For example, the Planner coordinated and registered VPRJ staff to attend the Oct. 10, 2008, Trauma Training facilitated by Dr. Joan Gillece and hosted by the Chesapeake Community Services Board. Another instance of such coordination was the June 19-20, 2008, “Making a Difference: 2008 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Conference,” which was attended by two committee members. Additionally, the Planner made all arrangements for a Merrimac Detention designee to attend the “VCAVPPA: Understanding Criminal Behaviors in the 21st Century Workshop.” The Planner continues the process of recruiting, interviewing, and training student interns and volunteers, who provide support services for the CCCJB, agencies/localities affiliated with the CCCJB (such as Colonial Community Corrections, District 34 State Probation and Parole 9th District Court Services Unit, HTSAC, and York County Juvenile Services.) The interns’ duties involve various projects at the agency where they are placed and may consist of probation work, counseling, on-site program management, data entry, research, and event planning. Their contributions help expedite the completion of projects, and alleviate some staff workloads. Internships specified under the Criminal Justice Planner center on community collaborations. The emphasis allows interns to work for any number of the committees, departments/agencies, and organizations within any area represented by the CCCJB. The CJ Planner interacts with a variety of entities at the county and city levels. Therefore, interns become familiar with and are assistants to other criminal justice agencies and community partners. From January 2008 through April 2009, CCCJB interns provided 676.5 hours of unpaid labor. Because "volunteer" time is valued at $16.54 per hour, this represents a $11,180.31 cost savings to the agencies and CCCJB localities.
Community Outreach/Education:
The CCCJB actively educates area merchants about evidence-based practice by providing presentations at local Rotary Club meetings, and supplying partnership letters and community contacts, as requested. Members of the CCCJB have provided educational presentations to New Kent Rotary Club and York County Rotary Club regarding evidence-based practices. The CCCJB has created many collaborative relationships with area merchants and businesses to include, but not limited to, the Greater Williamsburg area Ben and Jerry’s, Target, Mooretown Road Chick-fil-A, Trader Joe’s, Massey’s Camera Shop, The Genuine Smithfield Ham Shoppe, Ukrops Supermarkets, Casa Maya Mexican Restaurant, The Blue Talon, United States Gypsum of Norfolk, VA., Greystone of VA., Laser Rush of Newport News, VA, and the Great Wolf Lodge. The CCCJB Planner has been successful in collaborating with area merchants to provide community members of all localities with needed items, services, or evidence-based practices incentives. One such example is the CCCJB collaboration with United States Gypsum and Yorktown Food Lion to provide food for the Thanksgiving holiday to the families of individuals supervised by District 34 Probation and Parole, Colonial Community Corrections (CCC), and the York County Crossroads Youth Home. Another example of community collaboration is the collection of $780 worth of incentives from all CCCJB localities that are being used by agencies implementing evidence-based practices, specifically CCC, District 34 Probation and Parole, and the 9th Judicial District Court Service Unit.
Lunch and Learns/Legislative Events:
On June 24, 2009, the Virginia Pre-trial and Risk Assessment Instrument (VPRAI) Lunch and Learn (sponsored by Mooretown Rd. Chick-fil-a) was held at the Colonial Community Corrections office. This Lunch and Learn educated the local judiciary members, commonwealth attorney offices and defense attorneys regarding the new Pre-trial Risk Assessment. This event was facilitated by Katie Green, Program Administrator of Colonial Community Corrections. The previous year Lunch and Learn Session was held on March 3, 2008 titled, “Evidence-based Practices.” This session educated local defense attorneys on the progress of the 4-year implementation of evidence-based practices in the CCCJB localities.
On Sept. 16, 2008, the CCCJB partnered with the Colonial Services Board, The Arc of the Virginia Peninsula, The Arc of Greater Williamsburg, The Children’s Services Network, and the Historic Triangle Substance Abuse Coalition in what is now known as Partners for Behavioral Health Empowerment, in hosting a Legislative Breakfast, “Virginia’s Public Mental Health System: Making Right Choices Together.” The event focused on three topics: a moratorium on downsizing of Eastern State Hospital and Southeastern Virginia Training Center Facilities; implementation of the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) in accordance with Gov. Timothy Kaine’s Executive Order 62, and “A Life Like Yours,” an ARC initiative requesting additional support waivers for the hundreds of Virginia families. More than 50 individuals attended, including facilitator, Ms. Melanie Rapp, as well as several local state senators, delegates, government officials, community stakeholders, educators, and civic group representatives. A second legislative event, again sponsored by the Partners for Behavioral Health Empowerment, was held on April 29, 2009 for local and state elected officials and area stakeholders. A third Legislative event is currently being planned for September 22, 2009.
Evidence-based Practices:
Currently the CCCJB localities criminal justice agencies, Colonial Community Corrections and District 34 State Probation and Parole are entering into their fourth year as a pilot site for this initiative. Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the application of science into operational practice for services and programs for offenders. The goal is to use practices that have been empirically tested and have been shown to reduce recidivism among offenders. Based on numerous studies and Meta analyses of offender rehabilitation programs, researchers have outlined a set of principles to guide the implementation of EBP. Our EBP implies that there is a definable outcome that is measurable and defined according to practical realities such as recidivism, victim satisfaction, and services provided. We continue to be a leading pilot site for EBP, as we improving supervision effectiveness, enhance the safety of our communities, reduce victimization, improve collaboration, emphasize staff and organizational development, improve recidivism outcomes, and target funds toward interventions that bring the greatest result. This practice is truly the reengineering of probation; we work with the offender to achieve greater public safety by using contact as a vehicle for motivating offenders in the direction of changing their behavior.
Mental Health & Substance Abuse for First Responders Training:
This four year, Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Accredited and free Training Program initially provided first responders such as law enforcement personnel with effective strategies for understanding and handling individuals with mental health or mental health and substance abuse (co-occurring) disorders, who come in contact with the criminal justice system. In June 2005, the Criminal Justice Planner wrote and submitted a grant to the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation, requesting funding for this initiative titled, “Mental Health and Substance Abuse Education for First Responders.” Planner Griffith submitted the 2007 Final Report along with a Letter of Intent for the continued funding of this training. This funding provides an expanded comprehensive training for first responders in the CCCJB's six localities. Williamsburg Community Health Foundation has provided a total of $8960 in grant awards.
This 2008 training program was a successful collaborative effort between the CCCJB, Colonial Services Board, Henrico Services Board, City of Poquoson Police Department, James City County Police Department, James City County Sheriff Office, York County Sheriffs Office, Charles City County Sheriffs Office, New Kent Sheriffs Office and the City of Williamsburg Police Department. . The training programs core focus was expanded to include the understanding of mental health and law enforcement timelines, policies and responsibilities and how they relate to one another. The training maintained its focus on the “First Responder” such as the Law Enforcement Officer in gaining knowledge and the ability in recognizing the characteristics of impairments and crisis behavior as well as signs and symptoms of mental illness and the co-occurring disorders of mental illness and substance abuse. It also focused on providing effective strategies to the First Responder for understanding and handling these community members suffering from such disorders in appropriate, effective and constructive manners when they come in contact with the criminal justice system. This training assisted with the relationship building and understanding professional roles between the first responder (Law Enforcement Agent) and the crisis responder (Mental Health Professional).
Additionally, a one day seminar was held for the “Office First Responder” such as Probation Officers, School Teachers, Administrators, Social Workers, Mental Health Professionals and etc. This seminar’s facilitator was Tim Webb, M.A.Ed.,LPC,, who provided these professionals with how to identify, evaluate, de-escalate and intervene in appropriate and effective manners regarding mental health and substance abuse disorders along with suicidal, homicidal and violent tendencies in the office setting.
The 2008 Training was successful in providing a total of 340 DCJS CEU’s to attendees!
Sequential Intercept Model:
In May 2008, stakeholders from localities across the Commonwealth gathered at the Governor’s Conference for Mental Health and Criminal Justice Transformation to acquire knowledge, skills, and resources needed to develop and implement community-based approaches to jail diversion and to prevent unnecessary involvement of persons with mental illness in the criminal justice system. The CCCJB and Colonial CSB localities were chosen to participate in the Cross-Systems Mapping, a 2-day exercise which was held on May 18-19, 2009 at the donated space of the Lexington George Washington Inn in Williamsburg, Va.. This event was funded by the state thru DCJS and DMHMRSAS and allowed a group of thirty plus professionals to develop the cross systems mapping and to identify the resources and gaps in available services within the communities. Additionally, the group needed to establish community priorities while developing an action plan to implement change. This 2-day training assisted the CCCJB/CSB localities in developing and implementing plans for community change through cross-system collaboration. The workshops enhanced practices and facilitated organizational change utilizing innovative and dynamic tools to map systems, identify gaps in service, and clarify community resources. Additional planning meetings are underway to continue the Cross System Mapping/Sequential Intercept Priorities.
Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT):
Effective on July 1, 2009, the state of Virginia will be moving forward in establishing new goals for the statewide planning, implementation and evaluation of CIT. In April 2009,the CCCJB and CSB collaboratively applied for a CIT Grant through the DCJS which the application was not accepted. The CCCJB has decided to continue to move forward by applying for future funding that would assist law enforcement and CSB with CIT Training and Crisis/Emergency receiving centers. The CCCJB will continue to support CIT Training with Planner Griffith being the liaison for training registrations with other CIT Training Sites. The Colonial CSB will provide the certified CIT Officers with additional training regarding local resources. For additional information regarding CIT, please visit the VAcitcoalition.org website.