The City of Richmond is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Hopkins as the City’s new Director of Justice Services, Tracy L. Matthews as Deputy Director, Sr., and Letta P. Jones as the Juvenile Detention Administrator.
Mr. Hopkins was previously announced as the Director of the newly formed Office of Gun Violence Prevention in July 2025 and named Interim Director of Justice Services in October 2025. The Office of Gun Violence’s work will continue under the Human Services portfolio in the Department of Justice Services, with direct support from the Mayor’s Office, allowing the city to strengthen coordination, accountability, and impact across adult and juvenile justice systems. This integration formalizes a unified public-safety strategy that connects prevention, intervention, supervision, and post-incident response across the justice continuum.
“Simply put, Mr. Hopkins' leadership style and focus on Justice Services leadership is infectious. Since rejoining the City in July, Mr. Hopkins has accelerated the City’s violence prevention efforts,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. “Under his leadership, the City has strengthened cross-agency coordination and his interim leadership within the Department of Justice Services has driven impactful operational improvements, including progress toward fully staffing the Juvenile Detention Center. His impact has been both immediate and lasting, and his work continues to strengthen safety, accountability, and opportunity across Richmond.”
Prior to returning to the City of Richmond, Greg served as the Commonwealth’s Safer Communities Program Coordinator at the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). In that role, he provided training, technical assistance, and consultation to internal teams and external partners statewide. He also managed multiple state and federally funded initiatives, including Operation Ceasefire, Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention, Juvenile Justice Title II Formula Grants, and the Safer Communities Grant Program. Greg also served as the state’s Juvenile Justice Specialist and Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) Coordinator and acted as a liaison to the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
Greg previously spent twelve years with the City of Richmond’s Department of Justice Services as Community Programs Manager, overseeing the Community Programs Division. His responsibilities included managing Virginia Juvenile Community Crime Control Act (VJCCCA) programs such as Juvenile Surveillance Services, Youth and Family Support, the Evening Reporting Center, and leading the creation of the Juvenile Behavioral Health Docket, formerly known as Juvenile Drug Court.
“I am honored to step into the role of Director of Justice Services at a pivotal moment for our city. Justice Services sits at the nexus of accountability, prevention, and support, and aligning this work with the Office of Gun Violence Prevention allows us to strengthen coordination across agencies, deepen our partnerships with the community, and use data to drive meaningful action,” said Greg Hopkins. “Together, we are building a more unified public safety ecosystem focused on preventing violence, supporting individuals and families, and creating safer, more thriving neighborhoods.”
“Greg brings exactly the right experience and leadership to this role,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “He knows Richmond, believes in prevention, and has already built strong partnerships across the city. I’m grateful for his leadership and excited to see his work grow.”
Greg holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Criminal Justice Administration from Tiffin University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Virginia State University. He is also a graduate of the Grace E. Harris Virginia Commonwealth University Minority Political Leadership Institute. A product of Richmond Public Schools, his professional affiliations include serving as Board Chair for NIA Inc. of Greater Richmond, previous leadership roles with the Virginia Juvenile Justice Association and the Virginia Association of Drug Court Professionals, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, and membership in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc and a proud graduate of John Marshall High School.
Prior to joining the City of Richmond, Tracy Matthews served as the Law Enforcement Grants and Programs Manager for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). In that capacity, he oversaw a team responsible for a large and complex portfolio of federal and state grant programs that support law enforcement agencies, local governments, educational institutions, and community organizations. His work included managing all aspects of grant administration from funding opportunity development and application review to financial analysis, award conditions compliance oversight, and reporting to federal and state authorities. Mr. Matthews previously served as Community Programs Administrator for Juvenile Services in Newport News, Virginia. There, he managed a team responsible for community-based programs focused on juvenile justice, regulatory compliance, and the coordination of funding and reporting for grant programs assigned to the division. He played a critical role in shaping strategic goals, developing policies, and enhancing program effectiveness to better serve youth and families.
"We are pleased to welcome Tracy as the new Deputy Director for the Department of Justice Services,” said Hopkins. “Tracy brings a wealth of experience in criminal justice grant funding, leadership, and community collaboration that will strengthen our mission to enhance public safety across the City of Richmond. His commitment to innovation and service makes him an outstanding addition to our leadership team.”
Mr. Matthews holds a Master of Public Administration from Troy University and a Bachelor of Arts from Hampton University.
Ms. Letta Jones rejoins the City of Richmond from Henrico County where she served as a Juvenile Programs Administrator where she oversaw the coordination, implementation, and evaluation of community-based juvenile justice programs aimed at reducing recidivism and strengthening outcomes for at-risk youth. Prior to her position with Henrico County, Ms. Jones served for over a decade with the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, including roles as Assistant Superintendent of Programs and Acting Superintendent. In these leadership capacities, she directed daily operations of a secure detention facility, supervised multidisciplinary staff, managed budgets and contracts, and implemented structured programming focused on youth development, behavioral improvement, and successful reentry.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Jones held key roles with the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, including Interstate Compact Coordinator, where she served as a statewide subject matter expert on interstate juvenile supervision and managed a high-volume caseload involving multi-state coordination. She also brings experience in juvenile probation, and program coordinator, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the juvenile justice continuum - from intake and court services to residential care and community reintegration.
“We are excited to welcome Letta back to the City of Richmond. She brings an exceptional depth of experience across the full spectrum of juvenile justice- from secure detention leadership to community-based programming and interstate coordination,” said Hopkins. “Her proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage complex operations, and implement effective strategies to reduce recidivism will be invaluable as we continue working to improve outcomes for our youth. Her dedication to rehabilitation, accountability, and successful reentry makes her an outstanding addition to our team.”
Ms. Jones holds a Master of Science in Public Administration from Central Michigan University, a Post-Bachelor’s Certificate in Paralegal Studies, and a Bachelor of Science in Government with a minor in Criminal Justice from Liberty University.
Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Matthews, and Ms. Jones will officially step into their roles on Monday, April 6, 2026.
