Richmond’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention director to lead justice services department

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The city of Richmond has selected a new director for its justice services department and appointed additional leadership to the office.

City officials announced on Thursday that Greg Hopkins, who previously served as director of Richmond's newly formed Office of Gun Violence Prevention, will step into his new position on Monday, April 6. Hopkins was named interim director of justice services in October last year.

In his new role, Hopkins will help the city strengthen coordination, accountability and impact across its adult and juvenile justice systems, per a release. His experiences with the Department of Justice Services include 12 years as its community programs manager, where he managed several programs with the Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act.

Hopkins previously served as the safer communities program coordinator at the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). In that role, he provided training, consultation and assistance to teams and partners statewide.

Hopkins holds a master's degree in criminal justice from Tiffin University and a bachelor's degree in sociology from Virginia State University. An alum of Richmond Public Schools, he has held leadership roles with the Virginia Juvenile Justice Association, the Virginia Association of Drug Court Professionals and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators.

Per the city's announcement, Tracy L. Matthews will serve as senior deputy director and Letta P. Jones will serve as the juvenile detention administrator in Richmond's Department of Justice Services beginning April 6.

Matthews previously worked as the law enforcement grants and programs manager for the DCJS, where he oversaw a portfolio of federal and state grant programs. He previously served as community programs administrator for juvenile services in Newport News.

Matthews holds a master's degree from Troy University and a bachelor's degree from Hampton University.

Jones will return to Richmond from Henrico County, where she served as a juvenile programs administrator and oversaw community-based juvenile justice programs aimed at reducing recidivism, per a release. She previously worked for over a decade with the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center in multiple roles, including assistant superintendent of programs and acting superintendent.

Jones held several positions with the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice earlier in her career and has experience in juvenile probation and program coordinator. She holds a master's degree from Central Michigan University and a bachelor's degree in government with a minor in criminal justice from Liberty University.