New River Community Corrections & Pretrial Services

New River Community Corrections and Pretrial Services (NRCC&PTS) promotes public safety by reducing recidivism. We serve the courts and community by providing efficient, effective, innovative assessment and supervision programs that empower clients to achieve success and improve individual growth.

NRCC&PTS consists of two programs:

Pretrial Supervision
Local Offender Probation Services

These programs serve the twenty-seventh Judicial District, which includes Bland, Carroll, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe Counties, along with the Cities of Galax and Radford. Most of the resources and staff are devoted to supervising offenders and defendants in the community. Each Virginia judicial circuit or district has unique practices regarding the sentencing of offenders and bonding of defendants. These practices are driven by judicial discretion, as well as the quality and quantity of offender services available.

New River Community Corrections and Pretrial Services promotes a code of ethics that is used when working with offenders, the community, co-workers and other professionals:

To serve with humility
To act without prejudice
To uphold the law with dignity
To be objective in the performance of duties
To respect the inalienable rights of all persons
To cooperate with fellow workers and related agencies
To be aware of and uphold responsibilities to the individual and to the community
To improve professional standards through continuously seeking knowledge and understanding

Evidence Based Practices

NRCC&PTS endorses and implements the use of evidence based practices throughout our service delivery and programming. This is an ever-changing implementation process as more research and best practices develop.

Decades of research has proven that recidivism can be predicted and be reduced through the implementation and fidelity to the following model.

Assess for risk for recidivism
Enhance intrinsic motivation to change
Apply cognitive behavior interventions at the right time, to the right person, for the right duration
Provide positive support and reinforcement
Ensure quality and fidelity
Measure outcomes and results

NRCC&PTS historically and currently participates in numerous EBP implementation projects and evaluations.

Risk Assessment Information

All case management programs within NRCC&PTS utilize validated evidence based risk assessments during supervision. Supervision is then tailored to the individual’s risk to re-offend. The process includes individualized case plans for goal achievement, completion of supervision requirements and reduction in criminogenic risk.

Groups, Class and Programs

Anger Management

Anger Management Group discusses a variety of subjects aimed at improving an individual's skills in conflict resolution and emotion regulation. Often times, individuals have difficulty recognizing the emotions behind their anger. Additionally, an individual's anger communication style is often the result of social conditioning. Many individuals adopt their anger coping styles from their families of origin and the environment they were raised in. For instance, some individuals are raised with the belief that it is best to mask one's emotion in an attempt to avoid conflict. Internalizing one's emotions often leads to "explosion," or rather, acting out in violence. Other individuals may believe that expressing anger through violence is normal and, in some instances, justified. A large portion of Anger Management Group is dedicated to recognizing that these are unhealthy coping skills and are replacing them with more successful anger coping strategies.

Anger Management classes are normally held on the second Saturday of every month at the Blue Ridge Counseling office in Pulaski, Virginia. The classes start at 9:00am and end at 4:00pm. The cost is $100 per person who attends the class.

Online Anger Management classes are also offered for those who are referred to our program through Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Be sure to ask your local probation officer if the online courses are available for you!

Substance Abuse Groups

Substance Abuse group focuses on the causes and consequences of substance use as well as ways for an individual to successfully recover from substance use. Group members are educated on a variety of treatment modalities that can help them be successful in their recovery. Additionally, group members are allotted an opportunity to discuss environmental, psychological, and familial components that have influenced their substance use. Individuals placed in Substance Abuse group are at a variety of stages in their use and/or recovery and members are encouraged to share circumstances and situations that affect their use and provide encouragement to other group members. The greatest goal of Substance Abuse group is to assist group members in creating strategies that will assist them in their recovery, including; recognizing their triggers for use, establishing empathy for individuals that have been negatively affected by their use, emotional regulation, and creation of a support group.

Substance Abuse Groups are offered at multiple locations; Mount Rogers, Blue Ridge Counseling in Pulaski and Radford, and at New River Valley Community Services (NRVCS). Prices vary depending on income and ability to pay. Mount Rogers and Blue Ridge Counseling in Pulaski offer the group for 12 weeks (12 sessions) for $120 or $10 a week.

Domestic Violence Alternative Program (DVAP)

Certified by the Virginia Batterer Intervention Program Certification Board.

Per the Virginia Standards for BIP's, "Batterer Intervention Programs are required to use groups as the primary source of intervention, the purpose of which is to educate batterers and change behavior. The goals of the intervention program shall be: the cessation of a batterers' coercive, dominating, violent and abusive behavior; and, the safety of the victims and their children."

DVAP is offered at the Blue Ridge Counseling – Pulaski and Radford offices. The program is an 18 week course and is $30 each week you attend. Referrals to these programs are made by your local probation officer, the DVAP Instructor will call the client to schedule an assessment before the client is able to begin the program. If you miss multiple sessions in a row, the program will have the client start the classes over.

Substance Abuse Change Group (one day program)

This one day program is offered at the Blue Ridge Counseling – Pulaski office. It is normally held on the third Saturday of every month. The program begins at 9am and ends at 4pm. The cost of this one day program is $100 per person.

Shoplifters Alternative Program (SLAP)

The Office of Criminal Justice Services has two options available to address the need of shoplifters interventions. Participants in these programs learn about and address issues relating to shoplifting, theft, and the thinking that may result in these offenses

SLAP is offered at the Blue Ridge Counseling – Pulaski office normally on the third Saturday of every month. The class begins at 9am and ends at 1pm. The cost for this class is $40 per person.