Norfolk Criminal Justice Services (NCJS)
The Norfolk Criminal Justice Services (NCJS) Agency is a City of Norfolk community-based, and managed, corrections agency. NCJS is established under the authority of the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act (CCCA) specified in §9.1-173 through §9.1-183 of the State Code of Virginia; and, the Pretrial Services Act (PSA) as specified in §§19.2-152.2-19.2-152.7 of the State Code of Virginia.
Each division of NCJS, which operated previously under separate purviews of the City of Norfolk and the Sheriff’s Office, has served Virginia’s fourth judicial district since 1995. When the City of Norfolk obtained purview of Pretrial Services on July 1, 2008, the merging of operations transitioned into the current agency.
ADULT COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
The Local Probation division, commonly referred to as Adult Community Supervision (previously LOTS) is established under the authority of the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act (CCCA) as specified above. The Adult Community Supervision division provides services to the Norfolk Circuit, General District (Criminal and Traffic divisions), and Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts through the probationary supervision of eligible adult offenders.
Eligible adult (to include juveniles adjudicated as adults) offenders are those who are sentenced to a total of twelve (12) months or less for a Class I or II misdemeanor or nonviolent felony with a sentence suspended in whole or in part; or, following a deferred proceeding (finding under advisement) authorized by statute for any Class I or II misdemeanor offense for which the court could have imposed a jail sentence.
Sentencing to local community-based probation authorized by the CCCA is done in accordance with §19.2-303.3 of the State Code of Virginia. The Adult Community Supervision division offers Norfolk’s judiciary a cost-effective alternative to incarceration that enhances public safety through the provision of probation supervision, treatment referrals, and effective intermediate sanctions for violations.
These and other services promote offender accountability with the ultimate goal of helping them become productive members of the community. In the effort to further promote public safety and productive citizenry, court requirements may include, but are not limited to, community service, domestic violence intervention/counseling, anger management counseling, substance abuse testing, assessments, etc., along with a period of supervised probation (provided by sworn local probation officers).
PRETRIAL SERVICES
Pretrial Services operates for the provision of defendant supervision established under the authority of the Pretrial Services Act (PSA) specified in §§19.2-152.2-19.2-152.7 of the State Code of Virginia. It is a goal of Norfolk Pretrial Services to reduce jail overcrowding while maintaining public safety.
The Pretrial Services division provides critical information, obtained through an investigative process, to judicial officials. The information is presented in the form of investigative reports.
These reports allow jurists more informed bail decisions by determining flight risk, and the potentiality of reoffending. The pretrial investigative process includes a screening, interview, collection and verification of background information (for community stability purposes), a criminal records check, risk assessment and a recommendation.
Pretrial Services enhances public safety through the provision of intensive supervision as a condition of bail. Defendants, approved for release to the custody of the agency, are supervised by Pretrial Officers while awaiting trial.
Conditions of supervision may include alcohol\drug testing, substance abuse and mental health treatment referrals. Intensive supervision also helps to ensure a defendant’s appearance on their respective court date(s), thus reducing failure to appear rates.
