{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/37.2-901.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/37.2-901.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/37.2-901.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/37.2-901.html"}],"law_id":59056,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59056,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-901","catch_line":"Civil proceeding; rights of respondents; discovery","history":"1999, cc. 946, 985, \u00a7 37.1-70.2; 2001, c. 776; 2003, cc. 989, 1018; 2005, cc. 716, 914; 2007, c. 876; 2009, c. 740; 2011, cc. 446, 448.","full_text":"In hearings and trials held pursuant to this chapter, respondents shall have the following rights:\n\n1\n\nTo receive adequate notice of the proceeding.2\n\nTo be represented by counsel.3\n\nTo remain silent or to testify.4\n\nTo be present during the hearing or trial.5\n\nTo present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses.6\n\nTo view and copy all petitions and reports in the court file.\n\t\t\tIn no event shall a respondent be permitted, as a part of any proceedings under this chapter, to raise challenges to the validity of his prior criminal or institutional convictions, charges, or sentences, or the computation of his term of confinement.\n\t\t\tIn no event shall a respondent be permitted to raise defenses or objections based on defects in the institution of proceedings under this chapter unless such defenses or objections have been raised in a written motion to dismiss, stating the legal and factual grounds therefor, filed with the court at least 14 days before the hearing or trial.\n\t\t\tAll proceedings conducted hereunder are civil proceedings. However, no discovery shall be allowed prior to the probable cause hearing. After the probable cause hearing, no discovery other than that provided in this section shall be allowed without prior leave of the court. Counsel for the respondent and any expert employed or appointed pursuant to this chapter may possess and copy the victim impact statement or presentence or postsentence report. In no event shall the respondent be permitted to retain or copy a victim impact statement or presentence or postsentence report.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":216566,"text":"In hearings and trials held pursuant to this chapter, respondents shall have the following rights:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":216567,"text":"To receive adequate notice of the proceeding.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":216568,"text":"To be represented by counsel.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":216569,"text":"To remain silent or to testify.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":216570,"text":"To be present during the hearing or trial.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":216571,"text":"To present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":216572,"text":"To view and copy all petitions and reports in the court file.\n\t\t\tIn no event shall a respondent be permitted, as a part of any proceedings under this chapter, to raise challenges to the validity of his prior criminal or institutional convictions, charges, or sentences, or the computation of his term of confinement.\n\t\t\tIn no event shall a respondent be permitted to raise defenses or objections based on defects in the institution of proceedings under this chapter unless such defenses or objections have been raised in a written motion to dismiss, stating the legal and factual grounds therefor, filed with the court at least 14 days before the hearing or trial.\n\t\t\tAll proceedings conducted hereunder are civil proceedings. However, no discovery shall be allowed prior to the probable cause hearing. After the probable cause hearing, no discovery other than that provided in this section shall be allowed without prior leave of the court. Counsel for the respondent and any expert employed or appointed pursuant to this chapter may possess and copy the victim impact statement or presentence or postsentence report. In no event shall the respondent be permitted to retain or copy a victim impact statement or presentence or postsentence report.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13185,"edition_id":1,"name":"Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12889,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:24","permalink":{"id":210503,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13185,"identifier":"9","token":"37.2\/III\/9","url":"\/37.2\/III\/9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12889,"edition_id":1,"name":"Admissions and Dispositions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12843,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":210255,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12889,"identifier":"III","token":"37.2\/III","url":"\/37.2\/III\/","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":55224,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-900","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/37.2-900\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-900","metadata":false},{"id":55933,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-900.1","catch_line":"Office of Sexually Violent Predator Services","url":"\/37.2-900.1\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-900.1","metadata":false},{"id":59056,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-901","catch_line":"Civil proceeding; rights of respondents; discovery","url":"\/37.2-901\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-901","metadata":false},{"id":82519,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-902","catch_line":"Commitment Review Committee; membership","url":"\/37.2-902\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-902","metadata":false},{"id":63502,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-903","catch_line":"Database of prisoners convicted of sexually violent offenses; maintained by Department of Corrections; notice of pending release to CRC","url":"\/37.2-903\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-903","metadata":false},{"id":59630,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-904","catch_line":"CRC assessment of prisoners or defendants eligible for commitment as sexually violent predators; mental health examination; recommendation","url":"\/37.2-904\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-904","metadata":false},{"id":61154,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-905","catch_line":"Review of prisoners convicted of a sexually violent offense; review of unrestorably incompetent defendants charged with sexually violent offenses; petition for commitment; notice to Department of Corrections or referring court regarding disposition of review","url":"\/37.2-905\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-905","metadata":false},{"id":60446,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-905.1","catch_line":"Substantial compliance","url":"\/37.2-905.1\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-905.1","metadata":false},{"id":81383,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-905.2","catch_line":"Access to records","url":"\/37.2-905.2\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-905.2","metadata":false},{"id":87039,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-906","catch_line":"Probable cause hearing; procedures","url":"\/37.2-906\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-906","metadata":false},{"id":64395,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-907","catch_line":"Right to assistance of experts; compensation","url":"\/37.2-907\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-907","metadata":false},{"id":73700,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-908","catch_line":"Trial; right to trial by jury; standard of proof; discovery","url":"\/37.2-908\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-908","metadata":false},{"id":71603,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-909","catch_line":"Placement of committed respondents","url":"\/37.2-909\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-909","metadata":false},{"id":57455,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-910","catch_line":"Review of continuation of secure inpatient treatment hearing; procedure and reports; disposition","url":"\/37.2-910\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-910","metadata":false},{"id":67428,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-911","catch_line":"Petition for release; hearing; procedures","url":"\/37.2-911\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-911","metadata":false},{"id":74310,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-912","catch_line":"Conditional release; criteria; conditions; reports; penalty","url":"\/37.2-912\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-912","metadata":false},{"id":80606,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-913","catch_line":"Emergency custody of conditionally released respondents; revocation of conditional release","url":"\/37.2-913\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-913","metadata":false},{"id":86508,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-914","catch_line":"Modification or removal of conditions; notice; objections; review","url":"\/37.2-914\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-914","metadata":false},{"id":81420,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-915","catch_line":"Representation of Commonwealth and person subject to commitment; nature of proceedings","url":"\/37.2-915\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-915","metadata":false},{"id":69080,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-916","catch_line":"Authority of Commissioner; delegation to board; liability","url":"\/37.2-916\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-916","metadata":false},{"id":73119,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-917","catch_line":"Escape of persons committed; penalty","url":"\/37.2-917\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-917","metadata":false},{"id":78434,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-918","catch_line":"Persons on conditional release leaving Commonwealth; penalty","url":"\/37.2-918\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-918","metadata":false},{"id":74047,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-919","catch_line":"Postrelease supervision of Department; commission of new criminal offense by person committed to Department","url":"\/37.2-919\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-919","metadata":false},{"id":54199,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-920","catch_line":"Appeal by Attorney General; emergency custody order","url":"\/37.2-920\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-920","metadata":false},{"id":79122,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-921","catch_line":"Department to give notice of Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry requirements to certain persons","url":"\/37.2-921\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-921","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55933,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-900.1","catch_line":"Office of Sexually Violent Predator Services","url":"\/37.2-900.1\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-900.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":82519,"structure_id":13185,"section_number":"37.2-902","catch_line":"Commitment Review Committee; membership","url":"\/37.2-902\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-902","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/37.2-901\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1999. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?991+ful+CHAP0946\">946<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?991+ful+CHAP0985\">985<\/a> 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. It has been modified 6 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 2001, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0776\">776<\/a>; in 2003, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?031+ful+CHAP0989\">989<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?031+ful+CHAP1018\">1018<\/a>; in 2005, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0716\">716<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0914\">914<\/a>; in 2007, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?071+ful+CHAP0876\">876<\/a>; in 2009, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?091+ful+CHAP0740\">740<\/a>; in 2011, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?111+ful+CHAP0446\">446<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?111+ful+CHAP0448\">448<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75041,"section_number":"19.2-299","catch_line":"Investigations and reports by probation officers in certain cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-299\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":210513,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59056,"identifier":"37.2-901","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-901","url":"\/37.2-901\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/37.2-901\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-901","dublin_core":{"Title":"Civil proceeding; rights of respondents; discovery","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 37.2-901","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>In <span class=\"dictionary\">hearings<\/span> and <span class=\"dictionary\">trials<\/span> held pursuant to this chapter, <span class=\"dictionary\">respondents<\/span> shall have the following rights:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> To receive adequate notice of the proceeding. <a id=\"paragraph-216567\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/37.2-901\/#1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"2\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> To be represented by <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-216568\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/37.2-901\/#2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"3\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> To remain silent or to testify. <a id=\"paragraph-216569\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/37.2-901\/#3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"4\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> To be present during the <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">trial<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-216570\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/37.2-901\/#4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"5\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">5.<\/span> To present <span class=\"dictionary\">evidence<\/span> and to cross-examine witnesses. <a id=\"paragraph-216571\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/37.2-901\/#5\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"6\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">6.<\/span> To view and copy all <span class=\"dictionary\">petitions<\/span> and reports in the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> file.\n\t\t\tIn no event shall a <span class=\"dictionary\">respondent<\/span> be permitted, as a part of any proceedings under this chapter, to raise challenges to the validity of his prior criminal or institutional <span class=\"dictionary\">convictions<\/span>, charges, or sentences, or the computation of his term of confinement.\n\t\t\tIn no event shall a <span class=\"dictionary\">respondent<\/span> be permitted to raise defenses or objections based on defects in the institution of proceedings under this chapter unless such defenses or objections have been raised in a written <span class=\"dictionary\">motion<\/span> to dismiss, stating the legal and factual grounds therefor, filed with the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> at least 14 days before the <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">trial<\/span>.\n\t\t\tAll proceedings conducted hereunder are civil proceedings. However, no <span class=\"dictionary\">discovery<\/span> shall be allowed prior to the <span class=\"dictionary\">probable cause<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span>. After the <span class=\"dictionary\">probable cause<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span>, no <span class=\"dictionary\">discovery<\/span> other than that provided in this section shall be allowed without prior leave of the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>. <span class=\"dictionary\">Counsel<\/span> for the <span class=\"dictionary\">respondent<\/span> and any expert employed or appointed pursuant to this chapter may possess and copy the victim impact statement or presentence or postsentence report. In no event shall the <span class=\"dictionary\">respondent<\/span> be permitted to retain or copy a victim impact statement or presentence or postsentence report. <a id=\"paragraph-216572\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/37.2-901\/#6\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCIVIL PROCEEDING; RIGHTS OF RESPONDENTS; DISCOVERY (\u00a7 37.2-901)\n\nIn hearings and trials held pursuant to this chapter, respondents shall have the\nfollowing rights:\n\n1. To receive adequate notice of the proceeding.\n\n2. To be represented by counsel.\n\n3. To remain silent or to testify.\n\n4. To be present during the hearing or trial.\n\n5. To present evidence and to cross-examine witnesses.\n\n6. To view and copy all petitions and reports in the court file.\n\t\t\tIn no event shall a respondent be permitted, as a part of any proceedings\nunder this chapter, to raise challenges to the validity of his prior criminal or\ninstitutional convictions, charges, or sentences, or the computation of his term\nof confinement.\n\t\t\tIn no event shall a respondent be permitted to raise defenses or objections\nbased on defects in the institution of proceedings under this chapter unless\nsuch defenses or objections have been raised in a written motion to dismiss,\nstating the legal and factual grounds therefor, filed with the court at least 14\ndays before the hearing or trial.\n\t\t\tAll proceedings conducted hereunder are civil proceedings. However, no\ndiscovery shall be allowed prior to the probable cause hearing. After the\nprobable cause hearing, no discovery other than that provided in this section\nshall be allowed without prior leave of the court. Counsel for the respondent\nand any expert employed or appointed pursuant to this chapter may possess and\ncopy the victim impact statement or presentence or postsentence report. In no\nevent shall the respondent be permitted to retain or copy a victim impact\nstatement or presentence or postsentence report.\n\nHISTORY: 1999, cc. 946, 985, \u00a7 37.1-70.2; 2001, c. 776; 2003, cc. 989, 1018;\n2005, cc. 716, 914; 2007, c. 876; 2009, c. 740; 2011, cc. 446, 448.","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}}