Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services

**Agency Mission and Vision** ***The mission of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is to provide leadership to improve the criminal justice system in Virginia’s communities through effective training, partnerships, research, regulation, and support.*** ***Our vision is to be the national leader and Virginia's premier criminal justice agency, creating dynamic system-wide solutions for public safety.*** **Agency Description** The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is charged with planning and carrying out programs and initiatives to improve the functioning and effectiveness of the criminal justice system as a whole ([*Code of Virginia* § 9.1-102](http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/9.1-102/)). The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services: - conducts research and evaluation on criminal justice issues; - develops short and long-term criminal justice plans; - distributes federal and state funding to localities, state agencies and nonprofit organizations in the areas of law enforcement, prosecution, crime and delinquency prevention, juvenile justice, victims services, corrections, and information systems; - provides training, technical assistance and program development services to all segments of the criminal justice system; - establishes and enforces minimum training standards for law enforcement, criminal justice, and private security personnel; and - licenses and regulates the private security industry in Virginia. The agency’s primary constituents are local and state criminal justice agencies and practitioners, private agencies, private security practitioners and businesses, and the public-at-large. Other constituents include local governments and state agencies, the federal government and advocacy groups/associations. DCJS is unique in state government because of its system-wide perspective on criminal justice. While it directs programs and services to each component of the system, it has an overarching responsibility to view the system as a whole, to understand how changes in one part of criminal justice will affect other parts, and to work to assure that plans and programs are comprehensive. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is one of 11 agencies within the [Secretariat of Public Safety and Homeland Security](https://www.pshs.virginia.gov/). The [Criminal Justice Services Board](https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/node/546) agency’s policy board. It is comprised of representatives from all aspects of the criminal justice system on both state and local levels of government, and most of its members are appointed by the Governor.