NOVA JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER

The Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center (NVJDC) is a secure, detention facility located at 200 S. Whiting St in Alexandria, Virginia. The NVJDC is operated by the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Commission.  By inter-jurisdictional agreement, the Commission is comprised of five members appointed by their respective City Councils or County Board. 

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Ms. Sonnja E. Brown - Alexandria

Yon Lambert - Alexandria

Ms. Marguarite Gooden - Arlington

Mr. Earl Conklin - Arlington

John Lawrence - Falls Church

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The commission was established in 1956, and the original NVJDC property was dedicated in 1961. The facility was full-renovated in the late 1980s and has various upgrades to physical and security systems since then. The commission's powers include:

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Establishing a budget

Acquiring property

Setting regulations

Employing staff

Undertaking construction

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Youth may be placed at the facility by order of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, or by an order of the Circuit Court. The youth ordered into juvenile detention often have significant behavioral health, family, child welfare, and/or educational needs, which contribute to their offending behavior. Assessment and provision of services to address these needs are routinely the focus of the Court and while in the NVJDC.

 

The NVJDC is regulated by the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), which also provides partial funding for the operation of the facility.