Youth Services
The Virginia Beach Police Department created the Youth Services Unit in January 2023 to better serve our city’s youth population.
VBPD Youth Services
The Youth Services Unit oversees all youth-related programs and outreach efforts, including internship, youth employment and mentor programs, in addition to the School Resource Officer program.
Overview of Juvenile Justice System
Unlike the adult criminal justice system, which is punitive in nature, the juvenile justice system takes a more restorative approach, while ensuring public safety and accountability for the juvenile offender. The juvenile justice system is designed to rehabilitate and educate juveniles, so they learn from the experience and avoid future contact with the juvenile or adult criminal justice systems.
This is accomplished by addressing the offense committed, needs of the juvenile, and treatment options. The desires of the victim are also taken into consideration by the Court Services Unit and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judges. Since secured detention is intended for the most serious offenders, there are alternatives to detention, including diversion options and the Restorative Justice program.
If a juvenile enters the juvenile justice system through police contact, a decision is made whether to counsel and release the juvenile or to make an arrest. If a parent or citizen is making the complaint, they will need to go to Juvenile Intake to complete the required paperwork.
The Court Services Unit makes the decision, in collaboration with the complainant and victim, whether to take informal action, file a petition, participate in restorative justice or take no action at all. Once a petition has been filed, an intake officer assesses if the juvenile should be detained or released to his or her parent(s)/guardian(s). The decision is based on several factors, including the offense committed, the juvenile’s criminal record, and use of weapons.
When a report is filed with the Virginia Beach Police Department, the paperwork is forwarded to the Virginia Beach Court Services Unit for processing. Cases can be handled in several ways. Victims can choose from the following options:
Petition
In the juvenile justice system, a petition is similar to an adult warrant. It formally charges a juvenile with a criminal offense and requires him/her to appear before a judge with a parent or guardian. The victim must also appear in court for the trial.
Diversion
Based on the facts and circumstances of the case, the intake officer can decide to take informal action such as linkage to services and evidence-based programs. This approach provides an opportunity for the juvenile to learn from his/her actions without the presence of a formal criminal charge. In the event the juvenile does not comply with the diversion process, a petition can still be obtained.
Warn and Release
For minor offenses, the police officer can create an official record of the incident without referring the matter to Juvenile Intake for a petition or diversion. The juvenile is simply warned and released to a parent or guardian.
Restorative Justice
A voluntary program that seeks to humanize victims in the eyes of juvenile offenders and gives victims the opportunity to explain how a juvenile’s actions have impacted them. This allows the victim to be restored and requires the juvenile to take responsibility for their actions. Studies suggest that restorative justice programs benefit both victims and offenders, build empathy, and result in fewer repeat offenders. It also benefits the juvenile by not having a formal arrest record. This program is available for most misdemeanor offenses.
Additionally, the Virginia Beach Police Department has Victim Advocates that are available to discuss cases with victims and/or families, provide moral support, answer questions, explain police procedures and why officers/detectives took certain actions, provide service referrals, file for reimbursement of case-related expenses through the Virginia Victims Fund, assist with the first steps for crime scene clean-up and funeral arrangements, advocate for victim needs, attend court, and explain court procedures.
The Victim Advocate can be contacted by calling (757) 385-4101.
CHINS Petition
A child in need of services or supervision (CHINS) may qualify for a CHINS petition if they meet the criteria outlined in Virginia State Code. Examples of CHINS issues include curfew violations, truancy and running away. Please note that a CHINS petition is not automatically issued if a child runs away several times, as other are criteria required.
For additional information, call the Virginia Beach Court Services Unit at (757) 385-4361 or visit their website.
Parents and guardians are strongly discouraged from attempting to obtain a CHINS petition without first calling the Virginia Beach Court Services Unit at the phone number listed above.
Firearm Safety/Gun Lock Program
Nearly 1,300 children die from shootings each year and firearm-related injuries have surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death for children and teens. Adolescents are at a higher risk for suicide when there is a gun in the home since impulses and emotions can cloud their judgment. Younger children are fast and curious, and even a young child can pull the trigger on a firearm.
Parents should teach their children about firearms and answer any questions they may have. Younger children may not understand that gun use and violence seen on television and in video games are not real, so parents should discuss that topic with their children.
In the event a child finds a firearm, teach them to:
- Stop
- Don’t touch the firearm
- Leave the area
- Tell a trusted adult
Firearm owners need to ensure their firearms are unloaded and secured in a safe or gun box and the key is hidden. The safe combination and/or location of the key should be changed frequently. Additionally, ammunition should be stored separately from the firearm. Children will climb and search, so storing a firearm in a drawer or on a high shelf is not safe or effective.
If a safe or gun box is not an option, a cable gun lock is a great alternative. Firearm owners can obtain cable gun locks, free of charge, from any Virginia Beach Police precinct. Additionally, free gun locks are available from VBPD display tables at many community events.
Internet and Cell Phone Safety
Many children are using cell phones and the internet on a regular basis, whether it is for school, social interactions, entertainment, or all the above. Unfortunately, the internet and cell phones pose a variety of dangers for children, so parents should set standards for internet and cell phone use, and talk to their children about those dangers and how to safely use the internet and cell phones.
Topics that should be discussed include:
- Keeping personal information private and not sharing their name, address, school, phone number, etc. with anyone they meet online.
- Not sharing photographs of themselves or their families.
- Not taking and/or sharing inappropriate or obscene photographs/videos of themselves or others.
- Understanding that just because they think they know someone they met online, that person is still a stranger.
- Not meeting anyone in person that they meet online.
- The appropriate use of social media sites and the dangers associated with those sites.
- Bullying using social media, cell phones, etc.
- Not to share passwords or login information with anyone.
- To immediately notify a trusted adult if they encounter a problem or experience anything that makes them uncomfortable.
Parents may also want to consider using existing parental settings or installing a parental app on their child’s cell phone to restrict access to certain content and limit with whom their child communicates. Teens need to understand the potential risks and legal consequences associated with sharing obscene photographs and/or videos of themselves or others.
Recreation Safety
The City of Virginia Beach is surrounded by water and full of fun activities for children of all ages. To reduce the risk of serious injury or death while enjoying these activities, parents should discuss the following safety tips with their children:
- Always wear a helmet when riding a bike, skateboard, or roller skates.
- Wear knee and elbow pads when riding a skateboard or roller skates.
- Don’t play in the street.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Drink plenty of fluids when playing outside, especially in the summer.
- Never swim alone.
- Jump feet-first into a swimming pool.
- Understand rip currents and how to escape them if they are ever caught in one. To escape a rip current, swimmers should swim parallel to the shore instead of trying to swim back to shore.
- Always make sure a parent or trusted adult knows where you are. Check in often.
Additionally
- Adults should ensure pools are gated to avoid children from accessing them without supervision.
- Parents should establish safe play areas for children.
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988)
The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides services to anyone experiencing a suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress. Assistance can be obtained from the Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 to listen, provide support, and share resources. If someone is an imminent threat to themselves or someone else, request law enforcement by calling 911.
Youth and Community Action Team (YCAT)
YCAT is a community coalition that promotes healthy living through awareness and education. The group meets monthly and focuses on various topics, including substance abuse, mental health, suicide awareness/prevention, and gun safety. They can be contacted by calling (757) 385-0803.
"Blue Knights Chess Club” and “Badges and Board Games"
The Blue Knights Chess Club and Badges and Board Games programs give kids and teens the opportunity to play chess and other board games with officers and members of the Virginia Beach Police Department. This provides a positive activity for kids and teens and allows them to get to know officers and develop trust.
College Internship Program
The Virginia Beach Police Department is proud to partner with local colleges and universities to provide intern opportunities for college students with an interest in law enforcement and criminal justice. Most internships are 40 hours and allow the intern to ride with an officer on patrol. There are also some long-term work-study opportunities, but those positions are limited. You can begin your application here.
Police Aide Program
The Police Aide Program provides part-time employment for individuals who are at least 18 years old with an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement. Police aides receive training in various law enforcement-related topics, ride with officers on patrol, and work in various locations throughout the department to gain experience.
Once a police aide meets the age requirement for the police academy, they are required to complete the academy selection process. You can apply to participate in the Police Aide Program.
Summer Youth Employment Program
The Virginia Beach Police Department participates in the Summer Youth Employment Program that is managed by Parks and Recreation. Our department provides various employment opportunities to Virginia Beach residents between the ages of 16 and 21. Visit the Parks & Recreation website for more information.
Youth Police Academy
The Youth Police Academy meets once a week and provides an overview of law enforcement and various criminal justice topics. Applicants must be 14-18 years old, enrolled in high school, and maintain at least a “C” average.
The application window for the Youth Police Academy is currently closed. A link to the application will be published once it reopens.
Recreation Center Mentor Program
The VBPD Recreation Center Mentor Program is a partnership with Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation to provide quality police interactions and mentor opportunities for teens. Officers visit the City’s seven recreation centers at various times and interact with teens and kids by simply talking or playing basketball, pool, ping pong, and other games. The goal of this program is to develop positive relationships between the police department and teens so they feel comfortable approaching police officers if they need assistance. While most visits are unannounced, there are several planned visits throughout the year.
Partnership Programs
In addition to the numerous programs the Youth Services Unit manages, we also partner with several external agencies to deliver a variety of programs. Those programs include Parks After Dark, Life Enrichment Center (literacy tutoring), Kids’ Law Academy, Third Grade Mentor Program, and An Achievable Dream.
Arrive Alive VB
The Arrive Alive VB program is a safe driving program for high school juniors and seniors that focuses on the dangers of drinking and driving, texting while driving, and speeding; the importance of making mature decisions; and challenges them to consider the impact their decisions have on family, friends, their community, and others. The program consists of classroom instruction and culminates with a full-blown mock crash scenario on school grounds.
The Arrive Alive VB program is a complex program that requires the assistance of numerous partners, including the Virginia Beach Fire Department, Virginia Beach EMS, Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, Virginia Beach Public Schools, Virginia Beach ECCS, Sentara Healthcare, and Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Safety Squad
The Safety Squad program is a collaboration with the Virginia Beach Fire Department, Virginia Beach ECCS, and Virginia Beach Office of Emergency Management. Through this program, the Virginia Beach Police Department visits every elementary school and provides interactive instruction to fourth and fifth grade students on various topics, including firearm safety, internet safety, and recreation safety. Parents will receive an information pamphlet with topics to discuss with their children once the students have completed the training.
Virginia Rules Program
Virginia Rules is a state-specific, law-related education program for middle and high school students. The purpose is to educate students about Virginia laws and help them develop the skills required to make sound decisions to avoid breaking laws, and to become active citizens of their schools and communities. Middle and high school SROs teach the Virginia Rules programs to sixth and ninth grade students. For additional information, visit the Virginia Rules website.
VBCPS Public Safety Program
The Virginia Beach Police Department assists Virginia Beach Public Schools with the Public Safety Program at the Technical & Career Education Center. Every year, officers from the Youth Services Unit and various commands provide instruction on various topics to the students and serve as judges for their annual competition.
The Youth Services Unit has assisted in the development of a new course at Green Run High School that is being offered starting with the 2023-2024 school year. The course Law Enforcement Principals and Practice is a government course that exposes students to various law enforcement topics and allows them to explore the field of law enforcement through lectures and field experiences. If a student elects to pursue a career in law enforcement after completing the course, they have the option to enroll in the Public Safety Program at the Technical & Career Education Center.