{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-302.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-302.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-302.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-302.html"}],"law_id":64090,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64090,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-302","catch_line":"Dockets, indices, and order books; when hearings and records private; right to public hearing; presence of juvenile in court","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 16.1-162; 1956, c. 555; 1958, c. 353; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 228; 1975, c. 334; 1977, cc. 559, 585; 1978, c. 605; 1979, c. 393; 1983, c. 293; 1996, cc. 755, 914; 2018, c. 18.","full_text":"A\n\nEvery juvenile court shall keep a separate docket of cases arising under this law.B\n\nEvery circuit court shall keep a separate docket, index, and, for entry of its orders, a separate order book or file for cases on appeal from the juvenile court except (i) cases involving support pursuant to § 20-61 or subdivision A 3 or subsection F or L of § 16.1-241; (ii) cases involving criminal offenses committed by adults which are commenced on a warrant or a summons as described in Title 19.2; and (iii) cases involving civil commitments of adults pursuant to Title 37.2. Such cases shall be docketed on the appropriate docket and the orders in such cases shall be entered in the appropriate order book as used with similar cases commenced in circuit court. In any child or spousal support case appealed to the circuit court, the case files shall be open for inspection only as provided by § 16.1-305.01.C\n\nThe general public shall be excluded from all juvenile court hearings and only such persons admitted as the judge shall deem proper. However, proceedings in cases involving an adult charged with a crime and hearings held on a petition or warrant alleging that a juvenile fourteen years of age or older committed an offense which would be a felony if committed by an adult shall be open. Subject to the provisions of subsection D for good cause shown, the court may, sua sponte or on motion of the accused or the attorney for the Commonwealth close the proceedings. If the proceedings are closed, the court shall state in writing its reasons and the statement shall be made a part of the public record.D\n\nIn any hearing held for the purpose of adjudicating an alleged violation of any criminal law, or law defining a traffic infraction, the juvenile or adult so charged shall have a right to be present and shall have the right to a public hearing unless expressly waived by such person. The chief judge may provide by rule that any juvenile licensed to operate a motor vehicle who has been charged with a traffic infraction may waive court appearance and admit to the infraction or infractions charged if he or she and a parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the juvenile appear in person at the court or before a magistrate or sign and either mail or deliver to the court or magistrate a written form of appearance, plea and waiver, provided that the written form contains the notarized signature of the parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the juvenile. An emancipated juvenile charged with a traffic infraction shall have the opportunity to waive court appearance and admit to the infraction or infractions if he or she appears in person at the court or before a magistrate or signs and either mails or delivers to the court or magistrate a written form of appearance, plea, and waiver, provided that the written plea form containing the signature of the emancipated juvenile is accompanied by a notarized sworn statement which details the facts supporting the claim of emancipated status. Whenever the sole purpose of a proceeding is to determine the custody of a child of tender years, the presence of such juvenile in court may be waived by the judge at any stage thereof.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":233359,"text":"Every juvenile court shall keep a separate docket of cases arising under this law.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":233360,"text":"Every circuit court shall keep a separate docket, index, and, for entry of its orders, a separate order book or file for cases on appeal from the juvenile court except (i) cases involving support pursuant to § 20-61 or subdivision A 3 or subsection F or L of § 16.1-241; (ii) cases involving criminal offenses committed by adults which are commenced on a warrant or a summons as described in Title 19.2; and (iii) cases involving civil commitments of adults pursuant to Title 37.2. Such cases shall be docketed on the appropriate docket and the orders in such cases shall be entered in the appropriate order book as used with similar cases commenced in circuit court. In any child or spousal support case appealed to the circuit court, the case files shall be open for inspection only as provided by § 16.1-305.01.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":233361,"text":"The general public shall be excluded from all juvenile court hearings and only such persons admitted as the judge shall deem proper. However, proceedings in cases involving an adult charged with a crime and hearings held on a petition or warrant alleging that a juvenile fourteen years of age or older committed an offense which would be a felony if committed by an adult shall be open. Subject to the provisions of subsection D for good cause shown, the court may, sua sponte or on motion of the accused or the attorney for the Commonwealth close the proceedings. If the proceedings are closed, the court shall state in writing its reasons and the statement shall be made a part of the public record.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":233362,"text":"In any hearing held for the purpose of adjudicating an alleged violation of any criminal law, or law defining a traffic infraction, the juvenile or adult so charged shall have a right to be present and shall have the right to a public hearing unless expressly waived by such person. The chief judge may provide by rule that any juvenile licensed to operate a motor vehicle who has been charged with a traffic infraction may waive court appearance and admit to the infraction or infractions charged if he or she and a parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the juvenile appear in person at the court or before a magistrate or sign and either mail or deliver to the court or magistrate a written form of appearance, plea and waiver, provided that the written form contains the notarized signature of the parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the juvenile. An emancipated juvenile charged with a traffic infraction shall have the opportunity to waive court appearance and admit to the infraction or infractions if he or she appears in person at the court or before a magistrate or signs and either mails or delivers to the court or magistrate a written form of appearance, plea, and waiver, provided that the written plea form containing the signature of the emancipated juvenile is accompanied by a notarized sworn statement which details the facts supporting the claim of emancipated status. Whenever the sole purpose of a proceeding is to determine the custody of a child of tender years, the presence of such juvenile in court may be waived by the judge at any stage thereof.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13940,"edition_id":1,"name":"Confidentiality and Expungement","identifier":"12","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12701,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:21","permalink":{"id":161017,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13940,"identifier":"12","token":"16.1\/11\/12","url":"\/16.1\/11\/12\/","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":84235,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-299","catch_line":"(Effective until July 1, 2026) Fingerprints and photographs of juveniles","url":"\/16.1-299\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-299","metadata":false},{"id":64607,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-299.1","catch_line":"Sample required for DNA analysis upon conviction or adjudication of felony","url":"\/16.1-299.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-299.1","metadata":false},{"id":54996,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-299.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-299.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-299.2","metadata":false},{"id":86382,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-300","catch_line":"Confidentiality of Department records","url":"\/16.1-300\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-300","metadata":false},{"id":74120,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-301","catch_line":"Confidentiality of juvenile law-enforcement records; disclosures to school principal and others","url":"\/16.1-301\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-301","metadata":false},{"id":64090,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-302","catch_line":"Dockets, indices, and order books; when hearings and records private; right to public hearing; presence of juvenile in court","url":"\/16.1-302\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-302","metadata":false},{"id":70200,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-302.1","catch_line":"Right of victim or representative to attend certain proceedings; notice of hearings","url":"\/16.1-302.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-302.1","metadata":false},{"id":62170,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-303","catch_line":"Reports of court officials and employees when privileged","url":"\/16.1-303\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-303","metadata":false},{"id":57650,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-304","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-304\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-304","metadata":false},{"id":87014,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-305","catch_line":"Confidentiality of court records","url":"\/16.1-305\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-305","metadata":false},{"id":83654,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-305.01","catch_line":"Access to child and spousal support case files","url":"\/16.1-305.01\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-305.01","metadata":false},{"id":61575,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-305.1","catch_line":"Disclosure of disposition in certain delinquency cases","url":"\/16.1-305.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-305.1","metadata":false},{"id":72253,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-305.2","catch_line":"Disclosure of notice of the filing of a petition and certain reports by division superintendent","url":"\/16.1-305.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-305.2","metadata":false},{"id":66357,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-306","catch_line":"Expungement of court records","url":"\/16.1-306\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-306","metadata":false},{"id":83957,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-307","catch_line":"Circuit court records regarding juveniles","url":"\/16.1-307\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-307","metadata":false},{"id":82034,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-308","catch_line":"Effect of adjudication on status of child","url":"\/16.1-308\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-308","metadata":false},{"id":78870,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-309","catch_line":"Penalty","url":"\/16.1-309\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-309","metadata":false},{"id":63770,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-309.1","catch_line":"Exception as to confidentiality","url":"\/16.1-309.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-309.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":74120,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-301","catch_line":"Confidentiality of juvenile law-enforcement records; disclosures to school principal and others","url":"\/16.1-301\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-301","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":70200,"structure_id":13940,"section_number":"16.1-302.1","catch_line":"Right of victim or representative to attend certain proceedings; notice of hearings","url":"\/16.1-302.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-302.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-302\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 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 1958, chapter 353; in 1975, chapter 334; in 1977, chapters 559 and 585; in 1978, chapter 605; in 1979, chapter 393; in 1983, chapter 293; in 1996, chapters 755<\/a> and 914<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 18<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":81859,"section_number":"16.1-296","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of appeals; procedure","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-296\/"},{"id":83957,"section_number":"16.1-307","catch_line":"Circuit court records regarding juveniles","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-307\/"},{"id":75584,"section_number":"17.1-124","catch_line":"Order books; automated systems","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-124\/"},{"id":77544,"section_number":"19.2-240","catch_line":"Clerks shall make out criminal docket; transportation orders","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-240\/"},{"id":74301,"section_number":"8.01-331","catch_line":"Entry of cases on current dockets","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-331\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":71312,"section_number":"16.1-241","catch_line":"Jurisdiction; consent for abortion","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-241\/"},{"id":68962,"section_number":"20-61","catch_line":"Desertion or nonsupport of wife, husband or children in necessitous circumstances","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-61\/"}],"permalink":{"id":161039,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64090,"identifier":"16.1-302","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-302","url":"\/16.1-302\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-302\/","token":"16.1\/11\/12\/16.1-302","dublin_core":{"Title":"Dockets, indices, and order books; when hearings and records private; right to public hearing; presence of juvenile in court","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-302","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Every juvenile court<\/span> shall keep a separate docket<\/span> of cases arising under this law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Every circuit<\/span> court shall keep a separate docket<\/span>, index, and, for entry of its orders<\/span>, a separate order<\/span> book or file for cases on appeal<\/span> from the juvenile court<\/span> except (i) cases involving support pursuant to § 20-61<\/a> or subdivision A 3 or subsection F or L of § 16.1-241<\/a>; (ii) cases involving criminal offenses<\/span> committed by adults<\/span> which are commenced on a warrant or a summons<\/span> as described in Title 19.2; and (iii) cases involving civil commitments of adults<\/span> pursuant to Title 37.2. Such cases shall be docketed on the appropriate docket<\/span> and the orders<\/span> in such cases shall be entered in the appropriate order<\/span> book as used with similar cases commenced in circuit<\/span> court. In any child or spousal support case appealed to the circuit<\/span> court, the case files<\/span> shall be open for inspection only as provided by § 16.1-305.01<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The general public shall be excluded from all juvenile court<\/span> hearings<\/span> and only such persons admitted as the judge<\/span> shall deem proper. However, proceedings in cases involving an adult<\/span> charged with a crime<\/span> and hearings<\/span> held on a petition<\/span> or warrant alleging that a juvenile fourteen years of age or older committed an offense<\/span> which would be a felony<\/span> if committed by an adult<\/span> shall be open. Subject to the provisions of subsection D for good cause shown, the court<\/span> may, sua sponte<\/span> or on motion<\/span> of the accused<\/span> or the attorney for the Commonwealth close the proceedings. If the proceedings are closed, the court<\/span> shall state in writing its reasons and the statement shall be made a part of the public record. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> In any hearing<\/span> held for the purpose of adjudicating an alleged violation of any criminal law, or law defining a traffic infraction, the juvenile or adult<\/span> so charged shall have a right to be present and shall have the right to a public hearing<\/span> unless expressly waived by such person. The chief judge<\/span> may provide by rule that any juvenile licensed to operate a motor vehicle who has been charged with a traffic infraction may waive<\/span> court appearance<\/span> and admit to the infraction or infractions charged if he or she and a parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the juvenile appear in person at the court<\/span> or before a magistrate<\/span> or sign and either mail or deliver to the court<\/span> or magistrate<\/span> a written form of appearance<\/span>, plea<\/span> and waiver<\/span>, provided that the written form contains the notarized signature of the parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to the juvenile. An emancipated juvenile charged with a traffic infraction shall have the opportunity to waive<\/span> court appearance<\/span> and admit to the infraction or infractions if he or she appears in person at the court<\/span> or before a magistrate<\/span> or signs and either mails or delivers to the court<\/span> or magistrate<\/span> a written form of appearance<\/span>, plea<\/span>, and waiver<\/span>, provided that the written plea<\/span> form containing the signature of the emancipated juvenile is accompanied by a notarized sworn statement which details the facts<\/span> supporting the claim of emancipated status. Whenever the sole purpose of a proceeding is to determine the custody<\/span> of a child of tender years, the presence of such juvenile in court may be waived by the judge<\/span> at any stage thereof. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDOCKETS, INDICES, AND ORDER BOOKS; WHEN HEARINGS AND RECORDS PRIVATE; RIGHT TO\nPUBLIC HEARING; PRESENCE OF JUVENILE IN COURT (\u00a7 16.1-302)\n\nA. Every juvenile court shall keep a separate docket of cases arising under this\nlaw.\n\nB. Every circuit court shall keep a separate docket, index, and, for entry of\nits orders, a separate order book or file for cases on appeal from the juvenile\ncourt except (i) cases involving support pursuant to § 20-61 or subdivision\nA 3 or subsection F or L of § 16.1-241; (ii) cases involving criminal\noffenses committed by adults which are commenced on a warrant or a summons as\ndescribed in Title 19.2; and (iii) cases involving civil commitments of adults\npursuant to Title 37.2. Such cases shall be docketed on the appropriate docket\nand the orders in such cases shall be entered in the appropriate order book as\nused with similar cases commenced in circuit court. In any child or spousal\nsupport case appealed to the circuit court, the case files shall be open for\ninspection only as provided by § 16.1-305.01.\n\nC. The general public shall be excluded from all juvenile court hearings and\nonly such persons admitted as the judge shall deem proper. However, proceedings\nin cases involving an adult charged with a crime and hearings held on a petition\nor warrant alleging that a juvenile fourteen years of age or older committed an\noffense which would be a felony if committed by an adult shall be open. Subject\nto the provisions of subsection D for good cause shown, the court may, sua\nsponte or on motion of the accused or the attorney for the Commonwealth close\nthe proceedings. If the proceedings are closed, the court shall state in writing\nits reasons and the statement shall be made a part of the public record.\n\nD. In any hearing held for the purpose of adjudicating an alleged violation of\nany criminal law, or law defining a traffic infraction, the juvenile or adult so\ncharged shall have a right to be present and shall have the right to a public\nhearing unless expressly waived by such person. The chief judge may provide by\nrule that any juvenile licensed to operate a motor vehicle who has been charged\nwith a traffic infraction may waive court appearance and admit to the infraction\nor infractions charged if he or she and a parent, legal guardian, or person\nstanding in loco parentis to the juvenile appear in person at the court or\nbefore a magistrate or sign and either mail or deliver to the court or\nmagistrate a written form of appearance, plea and waiver, provided that the\nwritten form contains the notarized signature of the parent, legal guardian, or\nperson standing in loco parentis to the juvenile. An emancipated juvenile\ncharged with a traffic infraction shall have the opportunity to waive court\nappearance and admit to the infraction or infractions if he or she appears in\nperson at the court or before a magistrate or signs and either mails or delivers\nto the court or magistrate a written form of appearance, plea, and waiver,\nprovided that the written plea form containing the signature of the emancipated\njuvenile is accompanied by a notarized sworn statement which details the facts\nsupporting the claim of emancipated status. Whenever the sole purpose of a\nproceeding is to determine the custody of a child of tender years, the presence\nof such juvenile in court may be waived by the judge at any stage thereof.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 16.1-162; 1956, c. 555; 1958, c. 353; 1971, Ex. Sess., c.\n228; 1975, c. 334; 1977, cc. 559, 585; 1978, c. 605; 1979, c. 393; 1983, c. 293;\n1996, cc. 755, 914; 2018, c. 18.","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}}