{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/37.2-307.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/37.2-307.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/37.2-307.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/37.2-307.html"}],"law_id":79296,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79296,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-307","catch_line":"Employment of special counsel to defend Board member, officer, or employee of Department in criminal cases","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 37-16.2; 1966, c. 371; 1968, c. 477, \u00a7 37.1-38; 1976, c. 671; 2005, c. 716.","full_text":"If the Commissioner, any Board member, or any officer or employee of the Department is arrested, indicted, or otherwise prosecuted on any charge arising out of any act committed in the discharge of his official duties, the Commissioner may employ special counsel, to be approved by the Attorney General, to defend the person. The compensation for the special counsel employed pursuant to this section shall, subject to approval of the Attorney General, be paid out of funds appropriated to the Department.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":283902,"text":"If the Commissioner, any Board member, or any officer or employee of the Department is arrested, indicted, or otherwise prosecuted on any charge arising out of any act committed in the discharge of his official duties, the Commissioner may employ special counsel, to be approved by the Attorney General, to defend the person. The compensation for the special counsel employed pursuant to this section shall, subject to approval of the Attorney General, be paid out of funds appropriated to the Department.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12846,"edition_id":1,"name":"The Department and the Commissioner","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12845,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209715,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12846,"identifier":"1","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1","url":"\/37.2\/I\/3\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12845,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12844,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209713,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12845,"identifier":"3","token":"37.2\/I\/3","url":"\/37.2\/I\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12844,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12843,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209675,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12844,"identifier":"I","token":"37.2\/I","url":"\/37.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12843,"edition_id":1,"name":"Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","identifier":"37.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209673,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12843,"identifier":"37.2","token":"37.2","url":"\/37.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":53989,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-300","catch_line":"Creation and supervision of Department","url":"\/37.2-300\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-300","metadata":false},{"id":87072,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-301","catch_line":"Appointment of Commissioner","url":"\/37.2-301\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-301","metadata":false},{"id":61895,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-302","catch_line":"Term of office and vacancy therein","url":"\/37.2-302\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-302","metadata":false},{"id":68733,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-303","catch_line":"Qualifications of Commissioner","url":"\/37.2-303\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-303","metadata":false},{"id":58889,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-304","catch_line":"Duties of Commissioner","url":"\/37.2-304\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-304","metadata":false},{"id":55805,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-305","catch_line":"Receiving gifts and endowments","url":"\/37.2-305\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-305","metadata":false},{"id":76091,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-306","catch_line":"Research into causes of mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and related subjects","url":"\/37.2-306\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-306","metadata":false},{"id":79296,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-307","catch_line":"Employment of special counsel to defend Board member, officer, or employee of Department in criminal cases","url":"\/37.2-307\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-307","metadata":false},{"id":69476,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-308","catch_line":"Data reporting on children and adolescents","url":"\/37.2-308\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-308","metadata":false},{"id":85097,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-308.01","catch_line":"Commitment hearings for involuntary admissions; data sharing","url":"\/37.2-308.01\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-308.01","metadata":false},{"id":58069,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-308.1","catch_line":"Acute psychiatric bed registry","url":"\/37.2-308.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-308.1","metadata":false},{"id":74547,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-309","catch_line":"Department responsible for substance abuse services; office established; qualifications of staff","url":"\/37.2-309\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-309","metadata":false},{"id":63480,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-310","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Department related to substance abuse","url":"\/37.2-310\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-310","metadata":false},{"id":71267,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311","catch_line":"Review of applications for state or federal funds or services used in substance abuse programs","url":"\/37.2-311\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311","metadata":false},{"id":70901,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.1","catch_line":"Comprehensive crisis system; Marcus alert system; powers and duties of the Department related to comprehensive mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disability crisis services","url":"\/37.2-311.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.1","metadata":false},{"id":55219,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.2","catch_line":"Powers and duties of crisis call center","url":"\/37.2-311.2\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.2","metadata":false},{"id":79442,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.3","catch_line":"Standards for community care teams and mobile crisis teams","url":"\/37.2-311.3\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.3","metadata":false},{"id":72863,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.4","catch_line":"Crisis Call Center Fund","url":"\/37.2-311.4\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.4","metadata":false},{"id":60255,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.5","catch_line":"Collection of 988 charges","url":"\/37.2-311.5\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.5","metadata":false},{"id":65423,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-311.6","catch_line":"Liability for emergency calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline","url":"\/37.2-311.6\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-311.6","metadata":false},{"id":59415,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-312","catch_line":"Department responsible for education and training programs","url":"\/37.2-312\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-312","metadata":false},{"id":69006,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-312.1","catch_line":"Department to be lead agency for suicide prevention across the lifespan","url":"\/37.2-312.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-312.1","metadata":false},{"id":62132,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-312.2","catch_line":"Commonwealth Mental Health First Aid Program","url":"\/37.2-312.2\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-312.2","metadata":false},{"id":83802,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-313","catch_line":"Employment of unlicensed physician by Department","url":"\/37.2-313\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-313","metadata":false},{"id":81127,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-313.1","catch_line":"Licensed physician required at certain training centers","url":"\/37.2-313.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-313.1","metadata":false},{"id":75182,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-314","catch_line":"Background check required","url":"\/37.2-314\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-314","metadata":false},{"id":82101,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-314.1","catch_line":"Developmental Disabilities Mortality Review Committee; duties; membership; confidentiality; report; penalty","url":"\/37.2-314.1\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-314.1","metadata":false},{"id":67219,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-314.2","catch_line":"Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund","url":"\/37.2-314.2\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-314.2","metadata":false},{"id":85328,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-314.3","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Department related to supported decision-making agreements; report","url":"\/37.2-314.3\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-314.3","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":76091,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-306","catch_line":"Research into causes of mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and related subjects","url":"\/37.2-306\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-306","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":69476,"structure_id":12846,"section_number":"37.2-308","catch_line":"Data reporting on children and adolescents","url":"\/37.2-308\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-308","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/37.2-307\/","history_text":"<p>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 1966, chapter 371; in 1968, chapter 477; in 1976, chapter 671; in 2005, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0716\">716<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":209745,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79296,"identifier":"37.2-307","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-307","url":"\/37.2-307\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/37.2-307\/","token":"37.2\/I\/3\/1\/37.2-307","dublin_core":{"Title":"Employment of special counsel to defend Board member, officer, or employee of Department in criminal cases","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 37.2-307","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>If the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner<\/span>, any <span class=\"dictionary\">Board<\/span> member, or any officer or employee of the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span> is arrested, indicted, or otherwise prosecuted on any charge arising out of any act committed in the discharge of his official duties, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner<\/span> may employ special <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span>, to be approved by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>, to defend the person. The compensation for the special <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span> employed pursuant to this section shall, subject to approval of the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>, be paid out of funds appropriated to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Department<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEMPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL TO DEFEND BOARD MEMBER, OFFICER, OR EMPLOYEE OF\nDEPARTMENT IN CRIMINAL CASES (\u00a7 37.2-307)\n\nIf the Commissioner, any Board member, or any officer or employee of the\nDepartment is arrested, indicted, or otherwise prosecuted on any charge arising\nout of any act committed in the discharge of his official duties, the\nCommissioner may employ special counsel, to be approved by the Attorney General,\nto defend the person. The compensation for the special counsel employed pursuant\nto this section shall, subject to approval of the Attorney General, be paid out\nof funds appropriated to the Department.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 37-16.2; 1966, c. 371; 1968, c. 477, \u00a7 37.1-38; 1976, c.\n671; 2005, c. 716.","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}}