Court Services
Overview
During the 1994 session of the Virginia General Assembly, significant changes were made in the administration of community corrections services. The former Community Diversion Incentive (CDI) Act of 1980 was replaced by the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act and Pretrial Services Act.
In response to these legislative changes, the former Shenandoah Valley CDI Program became the new Blue Ridge Court Services Program. The focus of BRCS is to provide comprehensive pre- and post conviction services to the Courts of Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta and Highland.
The Pretrial Program assists the local court system in identifying those individuals detained prior to going to trial who may be more appropriately supervised in the community pending their appearance in court.
The Post Conviction or Local Probation Program provides the District Courts with a variety of alternative sentencing options. In lieu of serving an active jail sentence, certain non-violent offenders are allowed to return to the community where they are required to be employed, perform community service, pay court costs and restitution, or be subject to home incarceration and electronic monitoring.
The Restorative Justice Program provides the local courts a sentencing alternative which emphasizes the restoration of the victims of crime and the community.
The Domestic Violence Program focuses on offenders who have been referred from local juvenile and domestic relations courts with assault and battery charges on family members. These clients are assessed and placed into an appropriate treatment group.
The Home Electronic Monitoring Program provides local district and circuit courts with a house arrest alternative to incarceration. Offenders referred to this program are monitored under house arrest using voice recognition technology. Offenders participating in the HEM program may, with the court's permission, work on a regulated schedule and return home each evening to remain under house arrest.
