Argus House

Argus House is a community-based group home for at-risk boys between the ages of 13 and 18 and their parents.  Juveniles are referred by their probation counselors, and they either have committed delinquent offenses or have been determined to be a child in need of supervision.  In all cases, these juveniles have been recognized as individuals having the motivation and ability to change.

The program emphasizes personal accountability, competency development, leadership, and positive functioning in the community.  Argus House works closely with parents, siblings, schools, probation counselors, employers, and members of the community to help residents make lasting changes in their lives.  Residents of the group home continue to attend their own middle or high schools while in the program.  As they progress, they can earn the opportunity to hold appropriate employment, to participate in sports and other school activities, and to spend weekend time with their families.

In order to achieve the objectives stated above, the daily program includes:  peer groups, study hall, anger management and social skills training, therapeutic recreation, regular community service projects, parent groups, and multifamily activities.  Residents usually finish the residential component within 12 months. 

For further information, contact Chris Edmonds, Group Home Manager, at (703) 228-0422.

Aurora House

Aurora House serves females 13 to 17 years of age who reside in Arlington County and the City of Falls Church and who demonstrate significant problems that prevent them from living with parent(s) or family members. Clients are most frequently truancies from school and run-aways from home, often for extended periods of time, and often have many other underlying problems including highly troubled histories of child abuse, promiscuity, low self-esteem, depression, chronic conflict with authority figures and generally problematic relationships with peers. A significant number of girls placed at Aurora House also have histories of association with gang members.

Basics of Safe Driving Program

Increases driving awareness and skills for inexperienced adolescent drivers involved in traffic offenses. The program encourages ongoing parental involvement in supervising and teaching them.

Community Service/Restitution

Gives adjudicated juveniles and adults an opportunity to repay the community for the injustice that they have caused. Offenders are assigned to perform community service through court order or through a diversion program. Offenders are referred to Offender Aid and Restoration of Arlington County (OAR) for work site supervision and assignment. OAR assesses a participant's skills, education, experience and talent; finds placements that consider school and work schedules; and matches the community service requirements with a request and need in the community.

Detention Diversion Program

A home detention alternative to the secure detention of juveniles charged with certain crimes. Instead of being detained at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Home while awaiting court proceedings, juveniles may be allowed to return home with their parents/guardians. Juveniles assigned to the DDP are released upon the condition that they agree to follow the strict rules of conduct as stated in the DDP Contract/Court Order. DDP Counselors closely monitor the juvenile's behavior at home, at school and in the community to ensure compliance with the court's orders.

Gang Intelligence Program

Focuses on enhancing community safety through the enforcement of court imposed rules such as curfew and court orders prohibiting juvenile delinquents from having contact with gang members or "wanna-be" gang members. Rule violators are held accountable through the currently developed continuum of sanctions.

In recent years, Arlington experienced an influx of gang activity, specifically with juvenile gang involvement. The entire metropolitan area, including Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., has experienced similar increases in gang activity. As a result of this increasing problem, the Court Services Unit and the Arlington Police entered into a partnership, creating the Gang Intelligence Program. The goals of this program include sharing intelligence on area gang activity and members as well as prevention of gang recruitment and activity within Arlington.

During FY 09, six gangs were identified as operating in Arlington.  Among Arlington youth involved in FY 09 in the court process, 19 were referred to the Virginia Gang Management System as gang members.

Girls' Outreach

The Girls' Outreach program is an after school, day-treatment program. This ten month program serves female clients between the ages of 13 and 17.  Girls are referred through the court, school, or their families.  Each client resides and attends school in Arlington County or Falls Church.  The program fosters self-esteem through empowerment.  The program offers individual, family and group counseling in both English and Spanish.  It hosts educational workshops that focus on topics including sex and pregnancy prevention, self esteem, employability, and anger management.  Structured activities include community service and therapeutic recreational activities.  Education is emphasized by mandatory study hall and individual tutoring.  Personal responsibility is encouraged through weekly house meetings, goal setting and evaluations. 

Internship Program

A volunteer opportunity for individuals interested in the probation/parole field to gain work experience serving the youth, adults and families of Arlington. Interns interact with Court staff, judges, lawyers, schools and social service agencies. For additional information see Volunteers/Internships.

Probation and Curfew Enforcement (PACE) Program

Provides after-hours curfew checks on targeted probationers and parolees. Arlington County Police officers and a Courts probation counselor go together into the community to make checks on high-risk youth. The parolees or probationers are less likely to engage in unacceptable behavior due to the unpredictable time of day or night this check will occur. The program is popular with parents as it takes some of the responsibility of "reporting" their children away from them and places it on the Court.

Project "Open Book"

Distributes thousands of books for all ages to Court clients in the waiting area and through the Intake and Probation Units. Books are also distributed on an individual basis to a child or parent when requested by a staff member. The chief supplier of books is the Reading is Fundamental program which encourages child literacy and positive communication among family members. The Court also receives books and other types of donations from interested community members and organizations.

Psychological Services

Provided to both adult and juvenile clients, including individual and family therapy, group therapy and skills training, mental health evaluations, and psychological testing. Consultation and training for probation counselors and special program staff is also provided, with direct and consultative services available to the Juvenile and Adult Units, Argus House Boys' Group Home, Aurora House Girls' Group Home, and the Girls' Outreach program. The Court Psychologist is a member of the Admissions Committees that reviews referrals to the Argus House and Aurora House programs.

The Psychology Externship Program is available for graduate students working toward doctorate degrees in clinical psychology at local universities. Under supervision, the externs provide individual, family, and group therapy, mental health evaluation, and psychological testing to CSU clients across all units and programs.

Public Relations Program

Educates the public about juvenile justice in Arlington County through hosting Court tours and participating in various speaking engagements. Civic and parent groups and schools comprise the majority of the requests for presentations. Presentations are made at a wide variety of settings ranging from major universities and community colleges to high schools and churches. Send an email to the coordinator to request a speaker for your group.

School Probation Counselor Program

Provides intensive supervision and assistance to adjudicated youth with a history of school problems. Counselors are stationed at all Arlington high schools for cases referred from juvenile probation counselors.

Shoplifter Program

A diversion and court referral program for first time petty larceny offenders. It educates juveniles and their parents on the harm that shoplifting causes. Speakers include retailers, commonwealth attorneys, defense attorneys, and members of the CSU staff. In lieu of a Court appearance, juveniles must attend a 2.5-hour session, pass a test on presented material and complete a community service assignment. Those who repeatedly fail to appear for the program are violated and sent to Court.

Street Law Program

An educational experience specifically designed to reduce delinquency and improve compliance with probation conditions and overall response to the judicial system. The program is held monthly, and all clients in the Detention Diversion Program are required to participate. Parents also participate in the program which involves a self-assessment component in which a participant reflects on his or her offense and addresses behavior and options. The positive and negative consequences of each alternative are then analyzed.

Truancy Program

Created following the amendment to the Code of Virginia that requires schools to address attendance issues following 5 unexcused absences. These absences are addressed through contacts and conferences with parents. Issues related to truancy are brought before the Intake Service Unit by the schools following 7 unexcused absences at school. An interagency meeting is scheduled consisting of members from the Department of Human Services, school representatives, the student, the parents and the Truancy Coordinator.

Following these meetings, the team revisits the actions taken to remedy the situation. Families involved with the Truancy Program are referred to the Community Assessment Team if necessary. If there are continued student absences without parental permission, the student will be brought before a judge of the Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court for review of the situation and further remedies are sought.

Victim Awareness Program

Initiated in July 2001, the program heightens the awareness of juvenile offenders regarding the impact of their crimes on victims. In Fiscal Year 2008, the program helped 50 offenders between the ages of 13 and 18 understand how crime affects the victim, the victim's family, the victim's friends, and the community. Various methods such as videos of victims, discussion, role-playing exercises, actual victim testimony, and written exercises are utilized to achieve a successful outcome.