{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-259.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-259.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-259.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-259.html"}],"law_id":68644,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68644,"structure_id":14663,"section_number":"16.1-259","catch_line":"Procedure in cases of adults","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 16.1-186; 1956, c. 555; 1977, c. 559; 1986, c. 95; 2016, c. 626.","full_text":"A\n\nIn cases where an adult is charged with violations of the criminal law pursuant to subsection I or J of § 16.1-241, the procedure and disposition applicable in the trial of such cases in general district court shall be applicable to trial in juvenile court. The provisions of this law shall govern in all other cases involving adults.B\n\nProceedings in cases of adults may be instituted on petition by any interested party, or on a warrant issued as provided by law, or upon the court’s own motion.C\n\nProceedings in cases of adults under the age of 21 who are alleged to have committed, before attaining the age of 18, an offense that would be a crime if committed by an adult shall be commenced by the filing of a petition.D\n\nProceedings for violations of probation or parole in cases of adults under the age of 21 where jurisdiction is retained pursuant to § 16.1-242 shall be commenced by the filing of a petition.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":248448,"text":"In cases where an adult is charged with violations of the criminal law pursuant to subsection I or J of § 16.1-241, the procedure and disposition applicable in the trial of such cases in general district court shall be applicable to trial in juvenile court. The provisions of this law shall govern in all other cases involving adults.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":248449,"text":"Proceedings in cases of adults may be instituted on petition by any interested party, or on a warrant issued as provided by law, or upon the court’s own motion.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":248450,"text":"Proceedings in cases of adults under the age of 21 who are alleged to have committed, before attaining the age of 18, an offense that would be a crime if committed by an adult shall be commenced by the filing of a petition.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":248451,"text":"Proceedings for violations of probation or parole in cases of adults under the age of 21 where jurisdiction is retained pursuant to § 16.1-242 shall be commenced by the filing of a petition.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14663,"edition_id":1,"name":"Intake, Petition and Notice","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12701,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:12","permalink":{"id":161621,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14663,"identifier":"5","token":"16.1\/11\/5","url":"\/16.1\/11\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12701,"edition_id":1,"name":"Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts","identifier":"11","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12700,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":160945,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12701,"identifier":"11","token":"16.1\/11","url":"\/16.1\/11\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12700,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courts Not of Record","identifier":"16.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":160919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12700,"identifier":"16.1","token":"16.1","url":"\/16.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":68644,"structure_id":14663,"section_number":"16.1-259","catch_line":"Procedure in cases of adults","url":"\/16.1-259\/","token":"16.1\/11\/5\/16.1-259","metadata":false},{"id":57160,"structure_id":14663,"section_number":"16.1-260","catch_line":"Intake; petition; investigation","url":"\/16.1-260\/","token":"16.1\/11\/5\/16.1-260","metadata":false},{"id":70890,"structure_id":14663,"section_number":"16.1-261","catch_line":"Statements made at intake or mental health screening and assessment","url":"\/16.1-261\/","token":"16.1\/11\/5\/16.1-261","metadata":false},{"id":62109,"structure_id":14663,"section_number":"16.1-262","catch_line":"Form and content of petition","url":"\/16.1-262\/","token":"16.1\/11\/5\/16.1-262","metadata":false},{"id":56254,"structure_id":14663,"section_number":"16.1-263","catch_line":"Summonses","url":"\/16.1-263\/","token":"16.1\/11\/5\/16.1-263","metadata":false},{"id":75806,"structure_id":14663,"section_number":"16.1-264","catch_line":"Service of summons; proof of service; penalty","url":"\/16.1-264\/","token":"16.1\/11\/5\/16.1-264","metadata":false},{"id":76322,"structure_id":14663,"section_number":"16.1-265","catch_line":"Subpoena; attorney-issued subpoena","url":"\/16.1-265\/","token":"16.1\/11\/5\/16.1-265","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":57160,"structure_id":14663,"section_number":"16.1-260","catch_line":"Intake; petition; investigation","url":"\/16.1-260\/","token":"16.1\/11\/5\/16.1-260","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-259\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1956, chapter 555; in 1977, chapter 559; in 1986, chapter 95; in 2016, chapter 626<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":69673,"section_number":"16.1-237","catch_line":"Powers, duties and functions of probation and parole officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-237\/"},{"id":57160,"section_number":"16.1-260","catch_line":"Intake; petition; investigation","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-260\/"},{"id":56254,"section_number":"16.1-263","catch_line":"Summonses","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-263\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":71312,"section_number":"16.1-241","catch_line":"Jurisdiction; consent for abortion","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-241\/"},{"id":54717,"section_number":"16.1-242","catch_line":"Retention of jurisdiction","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-242\/"}],"permalink":{"id":161623,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68644,"identifier":"16.1-259","token":"16.1\/11\/5\/16.1-259","url":"\/16.1-259\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-259\/","token":"16.1\/11\/5\/16.1-259","dublin_core":{"Title":"Procedure in cases of adults","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-259","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In cases where an adult<\/span> is charged with violations of the criminal law pursuant to subsection I or J of § 16.1-241<\/a>, the procedure and disposition<\/span> applicable in the trial<\/span> of such cases in general district court shall be applicable to trial<\/span> in juvenile court<\/span>. The provisions of this law<\/span> shall govern in all other cases involving adults<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Proceedings in cases of adults<\/span> may be instituted on petition<\/span> by any interested party<\/span>, or on a warrant issued as provided by law, or upon the court<\/span>’s own motion<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Proceedings in cases of adults<\/span> under the age of 21 who are alleged to have committed, before attaining the age of 18, an offense<\/span> that would be a crime<\/span> if committed by an adult<\/span> shall be commenced by the filing of a petition<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Proceedings for violations of probation<\/span> or parole<\/span> in cases of adults<\/span> under the age of 21 where jurisdiction<\/span> is retained pursuant to § 16.1-242<\/a> shall be commenced by the filing of a petition<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROCEDURE IN CASES OF ADULTS (\u00a7 16.1-259)\n\nA. In cases where an adult is charged with violations of the criminal law\npursuant to subsection I or J of § 16.1-241, the procedure and disposition\napplicable in the trial of such cases in general district court shall be\napplicable to trial in juvenile court. The provisions of this law shall govern\nin all other cases involving adults.\n\nB. Proceedings in cases of adults may be instituted on petition by any\ninterested party, or on a warrant issued as provided by law, or upon the\ncourt’s own motion.\n\nC. Proceedings in cases of adults under the age of 21 who are alleged to have\ncommitted, before attaining the age of 18, an offense that would be a crime if\ncommitted by an adult shall be commenced by the filing of a petition.\n\nD. Proceedings for violations of probation or parole in cases of adults under\nthe age of 21 where jurisdiction is retained pursuant to § 16.1-242 shall\nbe commenced by the filing of a petition.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 16.1-186; 1956, c. 555; 1977, c. 559; 1986, c. 95; 2016,\nc. 626.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}