PETERSBURG - On July 18, Vanessa R. Crawford, sheriff of the City of Petersburg, was appointed to the Criminal Justice Services Board by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. The mission of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services is to provide leadership to improve the criminal justice system in Virginia's communities through effective training, partnerships, research, regulation and support. Their vision is to be the national leader and Virginia's premier criminal justice agency, creating dynamic system-wide solutions for public safety.
Sheriff Crawford says that she expects to continue to serve this community and other Virginians in this capacity to strengthen our criminal justice system across the state.
Sheriff Crawford was elected as sheriff in 2005 and is currently serving her third term as sheriff for the City of Petersburg. Sheriff Crawford has over 35 years of law enforcement service as she began her career in the Department of Corrections and retired from them after 28 years of service.
Sheriff Crawford is a member of the Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Petersburg where she serves on the Trustee Board. She is the president of the Petersburg High School Boosters Club, past president of the Petersburg Kiwanis Luncheon Club and former vice chair of the Petersburg School Board. In 2010, she was elected, unanimously, by all of the Virginia Sheriffs to serve as the president of the Virginia Sheriff's Institute. In 2012, she was unanimously elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Sheriff's Association. She has also been re-elected for the second time as chairman of the Petersburg-Dinwiddie Crime Solvers.
Sheriff Crawford is married to Leon, a retired military officer, and they have five children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.