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§ 37.2-813 (Effective July 1, 2026) Release of person prior to commitment hearing for involuntary admission

A. Prior to a hearing as authorized in §§ 37.2-814 through 37.2-819, the district court judge or special justice may release the person on his personal recognizance or bond set by the district court judge or special justice if it appears from all evidence readily available that the person does not meet the commitment criteria specified in subsection C of § 37.2-817.

B. The director of any facility in which the person is detained may release the person prior to a hearing as authorized in §§ 37.2-814 through 37.2-819 if it appears, based on an evaluation conducted by the psychiatrist or clinical psychologist treating the person, that the person would not meet the commitment criteria specified in subsection C of § 37.2-817 if released. Prior to the person’s release under this subsection, the director shall consider, based on an evaluation conducted by the psychiatrist or clinical psychologist treating the person, whether referral of the person to a community-based outpatient stabilization program for voluntary treatment is appropriate.

C. For any person under a temporary detention order pursuant to § 37.2-809, prior to transport to the facility of temporary detention, the director of the facility in which the person is located may release the person if an employee or a designee of the local community services board, as those terms are defined in § 37.2-809, in consultation with the person’s treating physician, (i) conducts an evaluation of the person, (ii) determines that the person no longer meets the commitment criteria specified in subsection C of § 37.2-817, (iii) authorizes the release of the person, and (iv) provides a discharge plan. The director and the person’s treating physician shall consider referral to a community-based outpatient stabilization program for voluntary treatment in forming the person’s discharge plan under this subsection.

History

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 351 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1974 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 22 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1975, chapters 237 and 433; in 1976, chapter 671; in 1980, chapter 582; in 1981, chapter 463; in 1986, chapters 478 and 629; in 1987, chapter 96; in 1988, chapter 98; in 1989, chapter 716; in 1990, chapters 429 and 728; in 1991, chapter 159; in 1992, chapter 566; in 1995, chapter 844; in 1996, chapters 343 and 893; in 1998, chapters 37, 594, and 611; in 2004, chapter 737; in 2005, chapter 716; in 2008, chapters 779, 850, and 870; in 2010, chapters 778 and 825; in 2022, chapter 763; in 2023, chapters 168 and 169; in 2024, chapter 780; in 2025, chapter 504.

1974, c. 351, § 37.1-67.1; 1975, cc. 237, 433; 1976, c. 671; 1980, c. 582; 1981, c. 463; 1986, cc. 478, 629; 1987, c. 96; 1988, c. 98; 1989, c. 716; 1990, cc. 429, 728; 1991, c. 159; 1992, c. 566; 1995, c. 844; 1996, cc. 343, 893; 1998, cc. 37, 594, 611; 2004, c. 737; 2005, c. 716; 2008, cc. 779, 850, 870; 2010, cc. 778, 825; 2022, c. 763; 2023, cc. 168, 169; 2024, c. 780; 2025, c. 504.

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