Chapter 180. Crime Prevention Specialists
6VAC20-180-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
"Agency administrator" means any chief of police, sheriff, or any agency head of local, state, federal and college or university law-enforcement agencies sworn under § 23.1-810 of the Code of Virginia.
"Crime prevention services" means providing for the anticipation, recognition, and appraisal of a crime risk and the initiation of an activity to remove or reduce the opportunity for crime.
"Department" means the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
"Employee" means any sworn or civilian individual, including auxiliaries, reserve-deputies, and volunteers employed by a local, state, or federal government agency, or college or university in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
"General law-enforcement instructor" means an individual who has complied with all of the applicable standards for certification or recertification, whichever applies, in 6VAC20-80-20, and is eligible to instruct, teach, or lecture approved or mandated training.
"Local, state, or federal government agency" means any political unit or identifiable subunit through which an individual or body that governs, exercises its authority, performs its functions, and which has as its principal duty or duties the administration of public policy.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-161 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR240-04-4 § 1, eff. December 14, 1994; amended, Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 14, eff. April 20, 2005; Volume 33, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2017.
6VAC20-180-20. Duties of a crime prevention specialist.
The duties of crime prevention specialists shall be in accordance with § 9.1-161 of the Code of Virginia and include the following:
1. To provide citizens within their jurisdiction information concerning personal safety and the security of property, and other matters relating to the reduction of criminal opportunity.
2. To provide business establishments within their jurisdiction information concerning business and employee security, and other matters relating to the reduction of criminal activity, including internal and external theft, environmental design, and computer security.
3. To provide citizens or businesses within their jurisdiction assistance in forming and maintaining neighborhood or business watch groups or other community-based crime prevention programs.
4. To provide assistance to other units of government within their jurisdiction in developing plans and procedures related to the reduction of criminal activity in government and the community.
5. To promote the reduction and prevention of crime within their jurisdiction and the Commonwealth.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-161 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR240-04-4 § 2, eff. December 14, 1994; amended, Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 14, eff. April 20, 2005; Volume 33, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2017.
6VAC20-180-30. Eligibility.
A. The agency administrator or his designee of any local, state, or federal government agency or college or university may designate one or more eligible employees in his department or office who serve in a law-enforcement, crime prevention, or criminal justice capacity to be trained and certified as crime prevention specialists. Application shall be made on the Crime Prevention Specialist Certification Application-Form A.
B. All crime prevention specialist applicants provided for in this chapter shall be approved only upon recommendation of a law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction where the crime prevention specialist shall serve.
C. This chapter does not limit or prohibit the chief executive of any local, state or federal government agency from assigning personnel to crime prevention tasks who are not certified as crime prevention specialists.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-161 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR240-04-4 § 3, eff. December 14, 1994; amended, Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 14, eff. April 20, 2005; Volume 33, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2017.
6VAC20-180-40. Crime prevention specialist certification requirements.
A. The following requirements must be achieved to be certified as a crime prevention specialist. The applicant shall have:
1. Been certified as a general law-enforcement instructor within the past five years, or successfully completed a comparable instructor development course approved by the department.
2. Received 40 hours of approved introductory crime prevention training. Completion of the following compulsory minimum training topics is required for designation as a crime prevention specialist:
a. Theory and Practice of Crime Prevention
b. Neighborhood Watch
c. Home and Business Security
d. Security Liability
e. Security Hardware (locks, lighting, and alarms)
f. Personal Safety
g. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
h. Security Assessments
3. Received 80 hours of additional crime prevention training within the past five years of the date of application. This additional training must address at least four of any of the following topics:
a. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
b. Community-Policing
c. Crime Analysis
d. School Safety and Security
e. Security Lighting
f. Computer Security
g. Managing Volunteers
h. Grant and Proposal Writing
i. Legislation, Ordinance and Regulation Development
j. Prevention of Youth Violence
k. Prevention of Family Violence
l. Drug Abuse Prevention
m. Public Speaking
n. Media Relations
o. Homeland Security/Terrorism Prevention
p. White Collar Crime
q. Identity Theft
r. Victim Witness Services
s. Crime Prevention for Seniors
t. Code Enforcement/Nuisance Abatement
u. Other topics approved by the department
4. At least three years experience in a law-enforcement, crime prevention, or criminal justice government agency.
5. At least one year experience, within the past five years of the date of application, in providing crime prevention services. Such experience shall have included:
a. Developing and maintaining Neighborhood or Business Watch groups.
b. Conducting security assessments of homes and businesses.
c. Making public presentations on home or business security and personal safety.
d. Distributing crime prevention information to the public.
e. Other experience approved by the department.
B. The department may waive all or part of the prescribed training requirements upon review of relevant crime prevention certifications awarded by recognized criminal justice or security organizations or by other state criminal justice agencies. These certifications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Crime prevention specialist certifications awarded by organizations or other states will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-161 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR240-04-4 § 4, eff. December 14, 1994; amended, Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 14, eff. April 20, 2005.
6VAC20-180-50. Recertification.
A. Recertification is required every three years.
B. Applicants for recertification shall be recommended by the agency administrator or his designee. Application shall be made on the Crime Prevention Specialist Recertification Application-Form B.
C. Applicants for recertification must complete 40 hours of additional crime prevention training after initial designation as a crime prevention specialist. This additional training must address at least two of the following topics:
1. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
2. Community-Policing
3. Crime Analysis
4. School Safety and Security
5. Security Lighting
6. Computer Security
7. Managing Volunteers
8. Grant and Proposal Writing
9. Legislation, Ordinance and Regulation Development
10. Prevention of Youth Violence
11. Prevention of Family Violence
12. Drug Abuse Prevention
13. Public Speaking
14. Media Relations
15. Homeland Security/Terrorism Prevention
16. White Collar Crime
17. Identity Theft
18. Victim Witness Services
19. Crime Prevention for Seniors
20. Code Enforcement/Nuisance Abatement
21. Other topics approved by the department
D. Individuals whose certification expires shall comply with the requirements set forth in 6VAC20-180-40 and meet any certification requirements in effect at that time.
E. The department may grant an extension of the recertification time limit and requirements under the following conditions:
1. Illness or injury
2. Military service
3. Special duty required and performed in the public interest
4. Leave without pay or suspension pending investigation or adjudication of a crime
5. Any other reason documented by the agency administrator
F. Requests for extensions of the time limit must be requested prior to certification expiration.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-161 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR240-04-4 § 5, eff. December 14, 1994; amended, Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 14, eff. April 20, 2005.
6VAC20-180-60. Decertification.
A. The department may revoke crime prevention specialist certification at any time based on misrepresentation of qualifications or conviction of a crime.
B. When the holder of a crime prevention specialist certification is no longer employed by or volunteering for a local, state, or federal government agency or college or university in a law-enforcement, crime prevention, or criminal justice capacity, the certification is no longer valid.
Statutory Authority
§§ 9.1-102 and 9.1-161 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 14, eff. April 20, 2005.
Forms (6VAC20-180)
Form A - Crime Prevention Specialist Certification Application.
Form B - Crime Prevention Specialist Recertification Application.