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...

Overall, crime was up last year in Richmond – by 1 percent – compared to the same statistics for 2010. This slight increase was driven by property crimes, which were up by 2 percent. However, there was a significant reduction in violent crimes, with homicides and commercial robberies leading the decline, down 10 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Aggravated assaults also were down 3 percent. Rapes generated the only increase, up 16 percent from 43 in 2010 to 50 in 2011. “Violent crime, and crime in general, is down in Richmond because the residents and police officers have joined forces to combat the criminal element,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “The police cannot and have not done it alone. It takes all of us, as stakeholders, working together.” “I am particularly pleased with the drop in violent crimes, which was even better than last year’s historic low,” said Chief Bryan T. Norwood. “However, despite our success in this area, there’s still work to do – in particular in the are...

Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that the City of Richmond has been awarded a $600,000 Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) grant towards the redevelopment of the Leigh Street Armory, located at 122 West Leigh Street in historic Jackson Ward. The Leigh Street Armory grant was one of six grant announcements made by the Governor today. The Leigh Street Armory Redevelopment, an initiative of the City’s ArtBusiness Richmond reinvestment program targeting the emerging Downtown arts district, will transform this vacant property into the new home of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. Renovation plans call for construction of a new addition to the rear of the Armory, which would add much needed space for museum exhibits, community education and events, storage, offices and other purposes. “I would like to thank Governor McDonnell for this grant award as these funds will significantly help advance this $3 million public/private revitalization project,” said Mayor Dw...

The City is initiating a new multi-pronged program called Project Clean Move. It is designed to keep neighborhoods clean and help students, landlords and property owners during student relocations. Project Clean Move encourages students to get an early start in planning their move and seeks to educate and bring awareness about laws related to illegal dumping and trash accumulation as well as recycling efforts. The program begins on January 1, 2012. The Department of Public Works is working with The Salvation Army, Central Virginia Foodbank, Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Fan District Association on Project Clean Move to provide information on available resources, such as recycling locations and places to donate clothing and non-perishable food. The Department of Public Works will continue to put roll-off dumpsters in neighborhoods near Virginia Commonwealth University in six week intervals, beginning in late April and again in...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and 9 th District City Councilman Doug Conner today announced recommendations to improve the City’s emergency preparedness and response strategies. The Office of Emergency Management, under the leadership of Emergency Management Coordinator Anthony McLean, has been working with Councilman Conner since Hurricane Irene in August to identify areas where the City can enhance the overall emergency response efforts for residents during an emergency. Today’s report reflects the results of that review. “It is the responsibility of government to ensure the safety, health and well-being of the residents it serves in any given situation, commented Mayor Jones. “While City workers did a good job in responding to Hurricane Irene, in any disaster there is always room for improvement. I want to thank Councilman Doug Conner for working so closely with us to undertake this review of our emergency response efforts and to help ensure that we capitalize on all lessons learned.” ...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones kicked off the demolition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School today in preparation for the construction of a new, state of the art, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School (MLK). Mayor Jones, joined by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Yvonne Brandon, MLK Principal Valerie Harris along with City Council members and School Board Members from the 6th and 7th districts, watched as an excavating machine took a chunk out of one of the buildings that will come down. “Today is a clear indication of the progress that we’ve made toward building new schools,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “With the start of our construction today, we are on our way to opening this new school in January of 2014.” The Jones Administration has broken ground on two new elementary schools since taking office and today’s action was the first taken on a new middle school. A new high school is also planned. MLK was originally constructed in 1964. Mayor Jones listed out the amenities the new s...