About Us
The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) is the largest state agency with more than 11,000 employees across the Commonwealth. We operate secure facilities and probation and parole offices to provide care and supervision for inmates under state custody.
Virginia currently has the nation's second-lowest recidivism rate at 20.6 percent.
Mission
We are in the business of helping people to be better by safely providing effective incarceration, supervision, and evidence-based re-entry services to inmates and supervisees.
Vision
A premier correctional organization where all individuals achieve their full potential.
Values
Citizenship. Commitment. Communication. Ethics. Honesty. Learning. Safety. Support.
Executive Staff
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Harold W. Clarke, Director
Harold W. Clarke has more than 40 years of award-winning experience in the corrections field. He started his career at the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, and then served at the Washington State Department of Corrections and Massachusetts Department of Corrections. In 2010, he was appointed director of the Virginia Department of Corrections.
He previously served as president of the American Correctional Association and Association of State Correctional Administrators. His leadership emphasizes improving re-entry and reducing recidivism.
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A. David Robinson, Chief of Corrections Operations
A. David Robinson leads the operations of the VADOC’s facilities and parole and probation offices throughout the state. He has served more than 30 years with the Virginia Department of Corrections, working his way up from line-level staff to warden. In 2006, he was promoted to eastern regional director for operations, and in 2011 was appointed chief of corrections operations. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1982 and his master’s degree in 1989 from Virginia Commonwealth University.
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Joseph Walters, Deputy Director, Administration
Joseph W. Walters was appointed as the deputy director of administration in October 2018. He began his award-winning career in public safety in 1993 with the Virginia State Police, where he rose through the ranks before joining the VADOC as the human resources director in 2015. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice/Sociology from Averett College and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Virginia Tech.
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Scott Richeson, Deputy Director of Programs, Education, and Re-entry
Scott Richeson directs the VADOC’s business practices regarding inmate programming and re-entry services that reduce recidivism. This includes substance abuse, education, mental health, victim services, and core correctional practices. She has more than 35 years of experience in the corrections field with a background in community corrections and prisons. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice and Public Safety and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.