Mayor Dwight C. Jones was joined by Sheriff C.T. Woody, City Council President Kathy Graziano, and City Council Vice President Ellen Robertson today in a ground breaking ceremony for the city’s new Justice Center. The ceremony marks the start of construction on the $134.6 million Justice Center project. “We want this to be a facility that actually yields positive results, rather than a facility that drains resources and pulls a community downward,” said Mayor Jones. “This is an issue that I did fight for because building this new justice center is right thing to do.” The facility will be located at the current jail site and will have a rated capacity of 1,032 beds. The new Justice Center will be more efficient, provide more humane treatment of inmates, better conditions for the employees and visitors, and will cost taxpayers less money over the life of the facility. The Jones Administration is also focused on finding alternative solutions for non-violent offenders and for those sufferi...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced changes at the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center (RJDC). Effective January 16, 2012, the superintendent of the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center has been relieved of her duties and Jack Scott, Executive Director of the Crater Youth Commission in Petersburg, has been named interim superintendent. Chuck Kehoe, director of the Richmond Department of Justice Services (RDJS) will serve as the lead for the RJDC organization’s Correction Action Plan. Also, Charles Lampkin from RDJS has been named as the interim assistant superintendent. “Our aim is to get the Center in order quickly. We want to end our probation as soon as possible and provide the proper care for those in need of services,” said Mayor Jones. “Leadership and management are responsible for getting the Center back on track. We have made the necessary changes for that to be accomplished.” Aside from the personnel changes, RJDC staff has begun mandatory retraining. The training is e...