Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is Virginia’s state criminal justice agency whose mission is to provide leadership to improve the criminal justice system in Virginia’s communities through effective training, partnerships, research, regulation, and support. DCJS serves state and local criminal justice agencies, law enforcement personnel, K‑12 schools, institutions of higher education, private security practitioners, and the public by setting training standards, administering grants and licensing programs, and providing research and technical assistance. The agency also administers substantial grant programs (the Division of Public Safety Training oversees over $330 million in grants) and runs statewide initiatives such as the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety.