On November 8, 2005, C.T. Woody was elected Sheriff for the City of Richmond, Virginia. This momentous event carried the responsibility of maintaining security of the second largest jail in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with approximately 450 deputies and a population of over 1,500 residents.
A key component in Sheriff Woody’s administration involves incorporating community-based and faith-based partnerships into Richmond City Jail educational and recovery programming. Sheriff Woody is working collaboratively to close the revolving door through innovative programs that equip Jail residents with the tools necessary to be productive, law abiding members of society upon their release. In addition to a new inmate vocational training program made possible through a partnership with numerous pastors and the Richmond Technical Center, Sheriff Woody’s support of the Richmond Sheriff’s Chaplaincy Program now offers faith-based programming through 14 different denominations and over 75 congregations and individual volunteers. Additionally, inmates are now allowed access to a private viewing of deceased immediate family when circumstances permit, and the Sheriff has allowed an unprecedented level of community involvement in meeting the needs of the men and women of the Richmond City Jail, resulting in ten of thousands of dollars of donations of books, stamps, clothing and other personal items.
During his tenure, Sheriff Woody worked to include his Office in the City’s Emergency Response Team and ensures every employee is successfully trained in National Incident Management Systems through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For the first time in history, Sheriff Woody secured certification from the State Compensation Board that will bring an anticipated 10 percent raise for Richmond deputies enrolled in the Master Deputy Program. Throughout his time in office, Sheriff Woody has played an active role in the planning and design process for the long needed new jail, which will replace the current facility.
Sheriff Woody brings almost four decades of broad law enforcement experience gained in the City of Richmond. In 1968, he began his career with the Richmond Police Department, walking a beat in the Southside. From there, his experiences broadened as he went on to the K-9 unit, narcotics detective, undercover officer, and SWAT team. While in charge of the Community Intelligence Team, he led a team of officers to build a partnership between the community and the Richmond Police Department.
Upon his 2002 retirement from the Richmond Police Department, Woody led investigations for the Office of the Commonwealth Attorney, as an expert consultant for trial preparation, investigations, and grand jury presentations, with specialized assistance to area law enforcement agencies.
Woody instructed at the College of William and Mary Law School for the Department of Criminal Justice and Commonwealth Attorneys Conference and was a certified instructor for the Richmond Police Department Training Academy. He completed Criminal Justice coursework at Virginia Union University and is a 1992 graduate from Leadership Metro Richmond. Most recently, Governor Tim Kaine appointed Sheriff Woody to the Urban Policy Taskforce.
During his prestigious career, Woody has been honored at numerous events and received over 150 awards, including the “Martin Luther King, Jr Outstanding Service to the Community Award”, presented by Sharon Baptist Church Deacons Ministries; “Salute to Excellence – Meritorious Police Duty”, presented by the City of Richmond Police Department; “Lifetime Achievement Award”, presented by the City of Richmond Police Department Salute to Excellence; and the “Community Service Award”, presented by Richmond City Council.
In 2009 Sheriff Woody ran unopposed, and received nearly 40,000 votes in the city of Richmond.
