{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-278.7.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-278.7.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-278.7.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-278.7.html"}],"law_id":80876,"edition_id":1,"section_id":80876,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.7","catch_line":"Commitment to Department of Juvenile Justice","history":"1991, c. 534; 2000, cc. 954, 981, 988; 2007, c. 510; 2014, cc. 20, 249; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 115.","full_text":"Only a juvenile who is (i) adjudicated delinquent of an act enumerated in subsection B or C of \u00a7 16.1-269.1 and is 11 years of age or older or (ii) 14 years of age or older may be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. In cases where a waiver of an investigation has been granted pursuant to subdivision A 14 or A 17 of \u00a7 16.1-278.8, at the time a court commits a child to the Department of Juvenile Justice the court shall order an investigation pursuant to \u00a7 16.1-273 to be completed within 15 days. No juvenile court or circuit court shall order the commitment of any child jointly to the Department of Juvenile Justice and to a local board of social services or transfer the custody of a child jointly to a court service unit of a juvenile court and to a local board of social services. Any person sentenced and committed to an active term of incarceration in the Department of Corrections who is, at the time of such sentencing, in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, upon pronouncement of sentence, shall be immediately transferred to the Department of Corrections.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":289896,"text":"Only a juvenile who is (i) adjudicated delinquent of an act enumerated in subsection B or C of \u00a7 16.1-269.1 and is 11 years of age or older or (ii) 14 years of age or older may be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. In cases where a waiver of an investigation has been granted pursuant to subdivision A 14 or A 17 of \u00a7 16.1-278.8, at the time a court commits a child to the Department of Juvenile Justice the court shall order an investigation pursuant to \u00a7 16.1-273 to be completed within 15 days. No juvenile court or circuit court shall order the commitment of any child jointly to the Department of Juvenile Justice and to a local board of social services or transfer the custody of a child jointly to a court service unit of a juvenile court and to a local board of social services. Any person sentenced and committed to an active term of incarceration in the Department of Corrections who is, at the time of such sentencing, in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, upon pronouncement of sentence, shall be immediately transferred to the Department of Corrections.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13006,"edition_id":1,"name":"Disposition","identifier":"9","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12701,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","permalink":{"id":161781,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13006,"identifier":"9","token":"16.1\/11\/9","url":"\/16.1\/11\/9\/","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":61839,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278","catch_line":"Cooperation of certain agencies, officials, institutions and associations","url":"\/16.1-278\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278","metadata":false},{"id":71042,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/16.1-278.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.1","metadata":false},{"id":82666,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.10","catch_line":"Traffic infractions","url":"\/16.1-278.10\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.10","metadata":false},{"id":81073,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.11","catch_line":"Mental illness and intellectual disability","url":"\/16.1-278.11\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.11","metadata":false},{"id":63604,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.12","catch_line":"When judicial consent in lieu of parental consent authorized","url":"\/16.1-278.12\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.12","metadata":false},{"id":65268,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.13","catch_line":"Work permits; petitions for treatment, etc","url":"\/16.1-278.13\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.13","metadata":false},{"id":75260,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.14","catch_line":"Criminal jurisdiction; protective orders; family offenses","url":"\/16.1-278.14\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.14","metadata":false},{"id":78408,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.15","catch_line":"Custody or visitation, child or spousal support generally","url":"\/16.1-278.15\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.15","metadata":false},{"id":61778,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.16","catch_line":"Failure to comply with support obligation; payroll deduction; commitment","url":"\/16.1-278.16\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.16","metadata":false},{"id":63607,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.17","catch_line":"Pendente lite support","url":"\/16.1-278.17\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.17","metadata":false},{"id":83584,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.17:1","catch_line":"Formula for determination of pendente lite spousal support","url":"\/16.1-278.17_1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.17_1","metadata":false},{"id":59856,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.18","catch_line":"Money judgments","url":"\/16.1-278.18\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.18","metadata":false},{"id":74062,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.19","catch_line":"Attorney fees","url":"\/16.1-278.19\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.19","metadata":false},{"id":59979,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.2","catch_line":"Abused, neglected, or abandoned children or children without parental care","url":"\/16.1-278.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.2","metadata":false},{"id":54079,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.3","catch_line":"Relief of care and custody","url":"\/16.1-278.3\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.3","metadata":false},{"id":86609,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.4","catch_line":"Children in need of services","url":"\/16.1-278.4\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.4","metadata":false},{"id":62708,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.5","catch_line":"Children in need of supervision","url":"\/16.1-278.5\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.5","metadata":false},{"id":74489,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.6","catch_line":"Status offenders","url":"\/16.1-278.6\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.6","metadata":false},{"id":80876,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.7","catch_line":"Commitment to Department of Juvenile Justice","url":"\/16.1-278.7\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.7","metadata":false},{"id":54722,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.7:01","catch_line":"Department to give notice of the receipt of certain persons","url":"\/16.1-278.7_01\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.7_01","metadata":false},{"id":87505,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.7:02","catch_line":"Department to give notice of Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry requirements to certain persons","url":"\/16.1-278.7_02\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.7_02","metadata":false},{"id":62824,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.8","catch_line":"Delinquent juveniles","url":"\/16.1-278.8\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.8","metadata":false},{"id":67041,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.8:01","catch_line":"Juveniles found delinquent of first drug offense; screening; assessment; drug tests; costs and fees; education or treatment programs","url":"\/16.1-278.8_01\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.8_01","metadata":false},{"id":74546,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.9","catch_line":"Delinquent children; loss of driving privileges for alcohol, firearm, and drug offenses; truancy","url":"\/16.1-278.9\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.9","metadata":false},{"id":72132,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-279","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-279\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-279","metadata":false},{"id":62456,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-279.1","catch_line":"Protective order in cases of family abuse","url":"\/16.1-279.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-279.1","metadata":false},{"id":76101,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-280","catch_line":"Commitment of juveniles with mental illness or intellectual disability","url":"\/16.1-280\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-280","metadata":false},{"id":58560,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-281","catch_line":"Foster care plan","url":"\/16.1-281\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-281","metadata":false},{"id":56077,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-282","catch_line":"Foster care review","url":"\/16.1-282\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-282","metadata":false},{"id":55053,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-282.1","catch_line":"Permanency planning hearing for children in foster care","url":"\/16.1-282.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-282.1","metadata":false},{"id":56299,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-282.2","catch_line":"Annual foster care review","url":"\/16.1-282.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-282.2","metadata":false},{"id":75076,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-283","catch_line":"Termination of residual parental rights","url":"\/16.1-283\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-283","metadata":false},{"id":74001,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-283.1","catch_line":"Authority to enter into voluntary post-adoption contact and communication agreement","url":"\/16.1-283.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-283.1","metadata":false},{"id":85194,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-283.2","catch_line":"Restoration of parental rights","url":"\/16.1-283.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-283.2","metadata":false},{"id":55428,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-283.3","catch_line":"Review of voluntary continuing services and support agreements for former foster youth","url":"\/16.1-283.3\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-283.3","metadata":false},{"id":61757,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-284","catch_line":"When adult sentenced for juvenile offense","url":"\/16.1-284\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-284","metadata":false},{"id":54157,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-284.1","catch_line":"Placement in secure local facility","url":"\/16.1-284.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-284.1","metadata":false},{"id":59506,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-285","catch_line":"Duration of commitments","url":"\/16.1-285\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-285","metadata":false},{"id":75164,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-285.1","catch_line":"Commitment of serious offenders","url":"\/16.1-285.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-285.1","metadata":false},{"id":70403,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-285.2","catch_line":"Release and review hearing for serious offender","url":"\/16.1-285.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-285.2","metadata":false},{"id":84274,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-286","catch_line":"Cost of maintenance; approval of placement; semiannual review","url":"\/16.1-286\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-286","metadata":false},{"id":78593,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-287","catch_line":"Transfer of information upon commitment; information to be furnished by and to local school boards","url":"\/16.1-287\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-287","metadata":false},{"id":86549,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-288","catch_line":"Protection of religious affiliations","url":"\/16.1-288\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-288","metadata":false},{"id":70444,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-289","catch_line":"Review of order of commitment","url":"\/16.1-289\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-289","metadata":false},{"id":67111,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-289.1","catch_line":"Motions to reconsider orders for participation in continuing programs","url":"\/16.1-289.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-289.1","metadata":false},{"id":65314,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-290","catch_line":"Support of committed juvenile; support from estate of juvenile","url":"\/16.1-290\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-290","metadata":false},{"id":54758,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-290.1","catch_line":"Payment for court-ordered counseling, treatment or programs","url":"\/16.1-290.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-290.1","metadata":false},{"id":66947,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-290.2","catch_line":"Certain information to be made available to certain defendants found not guilty","url":"\/16.1-290.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-290.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":74489,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.6","catch_line":"Status offenders","url":"\/16.1-278.6\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.6","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":54722,"structure_id":13006,"section_number":"16.1-278.7:01","catch_line":"Department to give notice of the receipt of certain persons","url":"\/16.1-278.7_01\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.7_01","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-278.7\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1991. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 534 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1991 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 2000, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?001+ful+CHAP0954\">954<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?001+ful+CHAP0981\">981<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?001+ful+CHAP0988\">988<\/a>; in 2007, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?071+ful+CHAP0510\">510<\/a>; in 2014, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0020\">20<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0249\">249<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":66829,"section_number":"16.1-269.1","catch_line":"Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-269.1\/"},{"id":84576,"section_number":"16.1-273","catch_line":"Court may require investigation of social history and preparation of victim impact statement","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-273\/"},{"id":62824,"section_number":"16.1-278.8","catch_line":"Delinquent juveniles","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.8\/"}],"permalink":{"id":161855,"object_type":"law","relational_id":80876,"identifier":"16.1-278.7","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.7","url":"\/16.1-278.7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-278.7\/","token":"16.1\/11\/9\/16.1-278.7","dublin_core":{"Title":"Commitment to Department of Juvenile Justice","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-278.7","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Only a juvenile who is (i) adjudicated delinquent of an act enumerated in subsection B or C of \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand\" href=\"\/16.1-269.1\/\">16.1-269.1<\/a> and is 11 years of age or older or (ii) 14 years of age or older may be committed to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Juvenile Justice. In cases where a <span class=\"dictionary\">waiver<\/span> of an investigation has been granted pursuant to subdivision A 14 or A 17 of \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Delinquent juveniles\" href=\"\/16.1-278.8\/\">16.1-278.8<\/a>, at the time a court commits a child to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Juvenile Justice <span class=\"dictionary\">the court<\/span> shall <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> an investigation pursuant to \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Court may require investigation of social history and preparation of victim impact statement\" href=\"\/16.1-273\/\">16.1-273<\/a> to be completed within 15 days. No <span class=\"dictionary\">juvenile court<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> court shall <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> the commitment of any child jointly to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Juvenile Justice and to a local board of social services or transfer the <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span> of a child jointly to a court service unit of a <span class=\"dictionary\">juvenile court<\/span> and to a local board of social services. Any person sentenced and committed to an active term of incarceration in the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Corrections who is, at the time of such sentencing, in the <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Juvenile Justice, upon pronouncement of sentence, shall be immediately transferred to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> of Corrections.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOMMITMENT TO DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE (\u00a7 16.1-278.7)\n\nOnly a juvenile who is (i) adjudicated delinquent of an act enumerated in\nsubsection B or C of \u00a7 16.1-269.1 and is 11 years of age or older or (ii) 14\nyears of age or older may be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice. In\ncases where a waiver of an investigation has been granted pursuant to\nsubdivision A 14 or A 17 of \u00a7 16.1-278.8, at the time a court commits a child\nto the Department of Juvenile Justice the court shall order an investigation\npursuant to \u00a7 16.1-273 to be completed within 15 days. No juvenile court or\ncircuit court shall order the commitment of any child jointly to the Department\nof Juvenile Justice and to a local board of social services or transfer the\ncustody of a child jointly to a court service unit of a juvenile court and to a\nlocal board of social services. Any person sentenced and committed to an active\nterm of incarceration in the Department of Corrections who is, at the time of\nsuch sentencing, in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, upon\npronouncement of sentence, shall be immediately transferred to the Department of\nCorrections.\n\nHISTORY: 1991, c. 534; 2000, cc. 954, 981, 988; 2007, c. 510; 2014, cc. 20, 249;\n2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 115.","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}}