Juvenile Court Services
Director: Elizabeth St. John
The First District Court Services Unit enhances the public safety of the Commonwealth and Chesapeake by providing the investigatory and enforcement functions for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (J and D Court). We are responsible for the following:
- Screening all complaints (domestic and criminal) for either initial filing for the Court, or referring the matter to the appropriate agency;
- Investigate all juvenile and adult cases assigned;
- Enforce the dispositional orders of the Court; and
- Counsel with all cases before the Court for the purposes of rehabilitation, case management, and the protection of the community.
Juvenile Intake Officers screen and assess complaints (domestic relations, protective orders and delinquent) to assure jurisdiction, venue, and probable cause before applying an appropriate action.
Intake Service Hours
- General Public and Community Partners: Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Law Enforcement: 24 hours a day
Custody / Visitation / Support
To file for Custody, Visitation or Support, please call 757-382-8188 to a schedule an appointment. Hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Please be prepared to provide the following:
- Proof of residency (Photo ID with current address - VA DMV);
- The reason you are filing the petition(s), the relationship between you and each child;
- Name, address, phone, date of birth, race, ethnicity, and social security number (if available) for the each child, parent(s), legal guardian(s), and your name if different from parent/guardian.
Family Abuse / Domestic Violence / Juvenile Involved Abuse
Filing times are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday. Please call before you come. The J & D Court scheduled these times. They are subject to change.
Any matters involving a child under the age of 18 and the child is alleged to be either the abuser or the victim, must be filed with a Juvenile Intake Officer for the J & D Court.
Family or household member includes:
- Spouse (even if you are not living together)
- Ex-spouse
- People who have a child together
- Parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren
- Step-children, siblings, half-siblings
- In-laws who live in the same home
- Any children of the persons mentioned in the previous who live in the same home
If you do not identify with the previous list, you will need to go to the General District Court for service.
Please be prepared to provide detailed information in writing regarding the alleged abuse:
- Name, address, phone, date of birth, race, ethnicity, physical description of the allege abuser and social security number (if available) for the each person involved;
- Details about the incident (who, what, when, where, and how);
- The person who is involved in the incident must be prepared to swear to all information presented before an intake officer.
Also, know as the Department of Social Services matters are filed at the allotted times that the J & D Court schedules, and all requests can be faxed to Juvenile Intake to meet the allotted time.
Youth must be under the age of 18 or under the age of 18 when the alleged act occurred.
- Name, address, phone, date of birth, race, ethnicity, physical description, and social security number (if available) for the each child, parent(s), legal guardian(s), and your name if different from parent/guardian;
- Details about the incident and the incident mist take place in Chesapeake (who, what, when, where, and how);
- Names and addresses of witnesses (if applicable);
- The person who is involved in the incident must be prepared to swear to all information presented before an intake officer.
Truancy matters are handled by Chesapeake Public Schools and Division of Community Programs.
- Probation and Parole Officers are assigned to a youth who have been referred to Court for a delinquent act.
- Probation and Parole Officers are assigned according to high school zones.