{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-1503.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-1503.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-1503.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-1503.html"}],"law_id":69022,"edition_id":1,"section_id":69022,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1503","catch_line":"Local departments to establish child-protective services; duties","history":"1975, c. 341, \u00a7 63.1-248.6; 1978, c. 747; 1979, cc. 347, 348; 1984, c. 392; 1987, c. 443; 1989, cc. 109, 547; 1991, c. 644; 1992, cc. 214, 837, 880; 1993, cc. 506, 955; 1994, cc. 643, 675, 840; 1996, cc. 858, 863; 1998, cc. 704, 716; 2000, cc. 500, 854; 2002, c. 747; 2004, cc. 114, 220, 886; 2008, cc. 474, 827; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2014, cc. 300, 565; 2017, cc. 88, 142; 2018, cc. 5, 209, 823; 2020, c. 829.","full_text":"A\n\nEach local department shall establish child-protective services under a departmental coordinator within such department or with one or more adjacent local departments that shall be staffed with qualified personnel pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board. The local department shall be the public agency responsible for receiving and responding to complaints and reports, except that (i) in cases where the reports or complaints are to be made to the court and the judge determines that no local department within a reasonable geographic distance can impartially respond to the report, the court shall assign the report to the court services unit for evaluation; and (ii) in cases where an employee at a private or state-operated hospital, institution or other facility, or an employee of a school board is suspected of abusing or neglecting a child in such hospital, institution or other facility, or public school, the local department shall request the Department and the relevant private or state-operated hospital, institution or other facility, or school board to assist in conducting a joint investigation in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board, in consultation with the Departments of Education, Health, Medical Assistance Services, Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Juvenile Justice and Corrections.B\n\nThe local department shall ensure, through its own personnel or through cooperative arrangements with other local agencies, the capability of receiving reports or complaints and responding to them promptly on a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-per-week basis.C\n\nThe local department shall widely publicize a telephone number for receiving complaints and reports.D\n\nThe local department shall notify the local attorney for the Commonwealth and the local law-enforcement agency of all complaints of suspected child abuse or neglect involving (i) any death of a child; (ii) any injury or threatened injury to the child in which a felony or Class 1 misdemeanor is also suspected; (iii) any sexual abuse, suspected sexual abuse or other sexual offense involving a child, including but not limited to the use or display of the child in sexually explicit visual material, as defined in § 18.2-374.1; (iv) any abduction of a child; (v) any felony or Class 1 misdemeanor drug offense involving a child; or (vi) contributing to the delinquency of a minor in violation of § 18.2-371, immediately, but in no case more than two hours of receipt of the complaint, and shall provide the attorney for the Commonwealth and the local law-enforcement agency with records and information of the local department, including records related to any complaints of abuse or neglect involving the victim or the alleged perpetrator, related to the investigation of the complaint. The local department shall notify the local attorney for the Commonwealth of all complaints of suspected child abuse or neglect involving the child’s being left alone in the same dwelling with a person to whom the child is not related by blood or marriage and who has been convicted of an offense against a minor for which registration is required as a Tier III offender pursuant to § 9.1-902, immediately, but in no case more than two hours of receipt of the complaint, and shall provide the attorney for the Commonwealth with records and information of the local department that would help determine whether a violation of post-release conditions, probation, parole, or court order has occurred due to the nonrelative offender’s contact with the child. The local department shall not allow reports of the death of the victim from other local agencies to substitute for direct reports to the attorney for the Commonwealth and the local law-enforcement agency. The local department shall develop, when practicable, memoranda of understanding for responding to reports of child abuse and neglect with local law enforcement and the attorney for the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tIn each case in which the local department notifies the local law-enforcement agency of a complaint pursuant to this subsection, the local department shall, within two business days of delivery of the notification, complete a written report, on a form provided by the Board for such purpose, which shall include (a) the name of the representative of the local department providing notice required by this subsection; (b) the name of the local law-enforcement officer who received such notice; (c) the date and time that notification was made; (d) the identity of the victim; (e) the identity of the person alleged to have abused or neglected the child, if known; (f) the clause or clauses in this subsection that describe the reasons for the notification; and (g) the signatures, which may be electronic signatures, of the representatives of the local department making the notification and the local law-enforcement officer receiving the notification. Such report shall be included in the record of the investigation and may be submitted either in writing or electronically.E\n\nWhen abuse or neglect is suspected in any case involving the death of a child, the local department shall report the case immediately to the regional medical examiner and the local law-enforcement agency.F\n\nThe local department shall use reasonable diligence to locate (i) any child for whom a report of suspected abuse or neglect has been received and is under investigation, receiving family assessment, or for whom a founded determination of abuse and neglect has been made and a child-protective services case opened and (ii) persons who are the subject of a report that is under investigation or receiving family assessment, if the whereabouts of the child or such persons are unknown to the local department.G\n\nWhen an abused or neglected child and the persons who are the subject of an open child-protective services case have relocated out of the jurisdiction of the local department, the local department shall notify the child-protective services agency in the jurisdiction to which such persons have relocated, whether inside or outside of the Commonwealth, and forward to such agency relevant portions of the case record. The receiving local department shall arrange protective and rehabilitative services as required by this section.H\n\nWhen a child for whom a report of suspected abuse or neglect has been received and is under investigation or receiving family assessment and the child and the child’s parents or other persons responsible for the child’s care who are the subject of the report that is under investigation or family assessment have relocated out of the jurisdiction of the local department, the local department shall notify the child-protective services agency in the jurisdiction to which the child and such persons have relocated, whether inside or outside of the Commonwealth, and complete such investigation or family assessment by requesting such agency’s assistance in completing the investigation or family assessment. The local department that completes the investigation or family assessment shall forward to the receiving agency relevant portions of the case record in order for the receiving agency to arrange protective and rehabilitative services as required by this section.I\n\nUpon receipt of a report of child abuse or neglect, the local department shall determine the validity of such report and shall make a determination to conduct an investigation pursuant to § 63.2-1505 or, if designated as a child-protective services differential response agency by the Department according to § 63.2-1504, a family assessment pursuant to § 63.2-1506.J\n\nThe local department shall foster, when practicable, the creation, maintenance and coordination of hospital and community-based multidisciplinary teams that shall include where possible, but not be limited to, members of the medical, mental health, social work, nursing, education, legal and law-enforcement professions. Such teams shall assist the local departments in identifying abused and neglected children; coordinating medical, social, and legal services for the children and their families; developing innovative programs for detection and prevention of child abuse; promoting community concern and action in the area of child abuse and neglect; and disseminating information to the general public with respect to the problem of child abuse and neglect and the facilities and prevention and treatment methods available to combat child abuse and neglect. These teams may be the family assessment and planning teams established pursuant to § 2.2-5207. Multidisciplinary teams may develop agreements regarding the exchange of information among the parties for the purposes of the investigation and disposition of complaints of child abuse and neglect, delivery of services and child protection. Any information exchanged in accordance with the agreement shall not be considered to be a violation of the provisions of § 63.2-102, 63.2-104, or 63.2-105.\n\t\t\tThe local department shall also coordinate its efforts in the provision of these services for abused and neglected children with the judge and staff of the court.K\n\nThe local department may develop multidisciplinary teams to provide consultation to the local department during the investigation of selected cases involving child abuse or neglect, and to make recommendations regarding the prosecution of such cases. These teams may include, but are not limited to, members of the medical, mental health, legal and law-enforcement professions, including the attorney for the Commonwealth or his designee; a local child-protective services representative; and the guardian ad litem or other court-appointed advocate for the child. Any information exchanged for the purpose of such consultation shall not be considered a violation of § 63.2-102, 63.2-104, or 63.2-105.L\n\nThe local department shall report annually on its activities concerning abused and neglected children to the court and to the Child-Protective Services Unit in the Department on forms provided by the Department.M\n\nStatements, or any evidence derived therefrom, made to local department child-protective services personnel, or to any person performing the duties of such personnel, by any person accused of the abuse, injury, neglect or death of a child after the arrest of such person, shall not be used in evidence in the case-in-chief against such person in the criminal proceeding on the question of guilt or innocence over the objection of the accused, unless the statement was made after such person was fully advised (i) of his right to remain silent, (ii) that anything he says may be used against him in a court of law, (iii) that he has a right to the presence of an attorney during any interviews, and (iv) that if he cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for him prior to any questioning.N\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the local department, in accordance with Board regulations, shall transmit information regarding reports, complaints, family assessments, and investigations involving children of active duty members of the United States Armed Forces or members of their household to family advocacy representatives of the United States Armed Forces.O\n\nThe local department shall notify the custodial parent and make reasonable efforts to notify the noncustodial parent as those terms are defined in § 63.2-1900 of a report of suspected abuse or neglect of a child who is the subject of an investigation or is receiving family assessment, in those cases in which such custodial or noncustodial parent is not the subject of the investigation.P\n\nThe local department shall (i) notify the Superintendent of Public Instruction without delay when an individual holding a license issued by the Board of Education is the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect and shall transmit identifying information regarding such individual if the local department knows the person holds a license issued by the Board of Education and (ii) notify the Superintendent of Public Instruction without delay if the founded complaint of child abuse or neglect is dismissed following an appeal pursuant to § 63.2-1526. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect the rights of any individual holding a license issued by the Board of Education to any hearings or appeals otherwise provided by law. Any information exchanged for the purpose of this subsection shall not be considered a violation of § 63.2-102, 63.2-104, or 63.2-105.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":249830,"text":"Each local department shall establish child-protective services under a departmental coordinator within such department or with one or more adjacent local departments that shall be staffed with qualified personnel pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board. The local department shall be the public agency responsible for receiving and responding to complaints and reports, except that (i) in cases where the reports or complaints are to be made to the court and the judge determines that no local department within a reasonable geographic distance can impartially respond to the report, the court shall assign the report to the court services unit for evaluation; and (ii) in cases where an employee at a private or state-operated hospital, institution or other facility, or an employee of a school board is suspected of abusing or neglecting a child in such hospital, institution or other facility, or public school, the local department shall request the Department and the relevant private or state-operated hospital, institution or other facility, or school board to assist in conducting a joint investigation in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board, in consultation with the Departments of Education, Health, Medical Assistance Services, Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Juvenile Justice and Corrections.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":249831,"text":"The local department shall ensure, through its own personnel or through cooperative arrangements with other local agencies, the capability of receiving reports or complaints and responding to them promptly on a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-per-week basis.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":249832,"text":"The local department shall widely publicize a telephone number for receiving complaints and reports.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":249833,"text":"The local department shall notify the local attorney for the Commonwealth and the local law-enforcement agency of all complaints of suspected child abuse or neglect involving (i) any death of a child; (ii) any injury or threatened injury to the child in which a felony or Class 1 misdemeanor is also suspected; (iii) any sexual abuse, suspected sexual abuse or other sexual offense involving a child, including but not limited to the use or display of the child in sexually explicit visual material, as defined in § 18.2-374.1; (iv) any abduction of a child; (v) any felony or Class 1 misdemeanor drug offense involving a child; or (vi) contributing to the delinquency of a minor in violation of § 18.2-371, immediately, but in no case more than two hours of receipt of the complaint, and shall provide the attorney for the Commonwealth and the local law-enforcement agency with records and information of the local department, including records related to any complaints of abuse or neglect involving the victim or the alleged perpetrator, related to the investigation of the complaint. The local department shall notify the local attorney for the Commonwealth of all complaints of suspected child abuse or neglect involving the child’s being left alone in the same dwelling with a person to whom the child is not related by blood or marriage and who has been convicted of an offense against a minor for which registration is required as a Tier III offender pursuant to § 9.1-902, immediately, but in no case more than two hours of receipt of the complaint, and shall provide the attorney for the Commonwealth with records and information of the local department that would help determine whether a violation of post-release conditions, probation, parole, or court order has occurred due to the nonrelative offender’s contact with the child. The local department shall not allow reports of the death of the victim from other local agencies to substitute for direct reports to the attorney for the Commonwealth and the local law-enforcement agency. The local department shall develop, when practicable, memoranda of understanding for responding to reports of child abuse and neglect with local law enforcement and the attorney for the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tIn each case in which the local department notifies the local law-enforcement agency of a complaint pursuant to this subsection, the local department shall, within two business days of delivery of the notification, complete a written report, on a form provided by the Board for such purpose, which shall include (a) the name of the representative of the local department providing notice required by this subsection; (b) the name of the local law-enforcement officer who received such notice; (c) the date and time that notification was made; (d) the identity of the victim; (e) the identity of the person alleged to have abused or neglected the child, if known; (f) the clause or clauses in this subsection that describe the reasons for the notification; and (g) the signatures, which may be electronic signatures, of the representatives of the local department making the notification and the local law-enforcement officer receiving the notification. Such report shall be included in the record of the investigation and may be submitted either in writing or electronically.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":249834,"text":"When abuse or neglect is suspected in any case involving the death of a child, the local department shall report the case immediately to the regional medical examiner and the local law-enforcement agency.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":249835,"text":"The local department shall use reasonable diligence to locate (i) any child for whom a report of suspected abuse or neglect has been received and is under investigation, receiving family assessment, or for whom a founded determination of abuse and neglect has been made and a child-protective services case opened and (ii) persons who are the subject of a report that is under investigation or receiving family assessment, if the whereabouts of the child or such persons are unknown to the local department.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":249836,"text":"When an abused or neglected child and the persons who are the subject of an open child-protective services case have relocated out of the jurisdiction of the local department, the local department shall notify the child-protective services agency in the jurisdiction to which such persons have relocated, whether inside or outside of the Commonwealth, and forward to such agency relevant portions of the case record. The receiving local department shall arrange protective and rehabilitative services as required by this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"7":{"id":249837,"text":"When a child for whom a report of suspected abuse or neglect has been received and is under investigation or receiving family assessment and the child and the child’s parents or other persons responsible for the child’s care who are the subject of the report that is under investigation or family assessment have relocated out of the jurisdiction of the local department, the local department shall notify the child-protective services agency in the jurisdiction to which the child and such persons have relocated, whether inside or outside of the Commonwealth, and complete such investigation or family assessment by requesting such agency’s assistance in completing the investigation or family assessment. The local department that completes the investigation or family assessment shall forward to the receiving agency relevant portions of the case record in order for the receiving agency to arrange protective and rehabilitative services as required by this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G","next_prefix":"I"},"8":{"id":249838,"text":"Upon receipt of a report of child abuse or neglect, the local department shall determine the validity of such report and shall make a determination to conduct an investigation pursuant to § 63.2-1505 or, if designated as a child-protective services differential response agency by the Department according to § 63.2-1504, a family assessment pursuant to § 63.2-1506.","type":"section","prefixes":["I"],"prefix":"I","entire_prefix":"I","prefix_anchor":"I","level":1,"prior_prefix":"H","next_prefix":"J"},"9":{"id":249839,"text":"The local department shall foster, when practicable, the creation, maintenance and coordination of hospital and community-based multidisciplinary teams that shall include where possible, but not be limited to, members of the medical, mental health, social work, nursing, education, legal and law-enforcement professions. Such teams shall assist the local departments in identifying abused and neglected children; coordinating medical, social, and legal services for the children and their families; developing innovative programs for detection and prevention of child abuse; promoting community concern and action in the area of child abuse and neglect; and disseminating information to the general public with respect to the problem of child abuse and neglect and the facilities and prevention and treatment methods available to combat child abuse and neglect. These teams may be the family assessment and planning teams established pursuant to § 2.2-5207. Multidisciplinary teams may develop agreements regarding the exchange of information among the parties for the purposes of the investigation and disposition of complaints of child abuse and neglect, delivery of services and child protection. Any information exchanged in accordance with the agreement shall not be considered to be a violation of the provisions of § 63.2-102, 63.2-104, or 63.2-105.\n\t\t\tThe local department shall also coordinate its efforts in the provision of these services for abused and neglected children with the judge and staff of the court.","type":"section","prefixes":["J"],"prefix":"J","entire_prefix":"J","prefix_anchor":"J","level":1,"prior_prefix":"I","next_prefix":"K"},"10":{"id":249840,"text":"The local department may develop multidisciplinary teams to provide consultation to the local department during the investigation of selected cases involving child abuse or neglect, and to make recommendations regarding the prosecution of such cases. These teams may include, but are not limited to, members of the medical, mental health, legal and law-enforcement professions, including the attorney for the Commonwealth or his designee; a local child-protective services representative; and the guardian ad litem or other court-appointed advocate for the child. Any information exchanged for the purpose of such consultation shall not be considered a violation of § 63.2-102, 63.2-104, or 63.2-105.","type":"section","prefixes":["K"],"prefix":"K","entire_prefix":"K","prefix_anchor":"K","level":1,"prior_prefix":"J","next_prefix":"L"},"11":{"id":249841,"text":"The local department shall report annually on its activities concerning abused and neglected children to the court and to the Child-Protective Services Unit in the Department on forms provided by the Department.","type":"section","prefixes":["L"],"prefix":"L","entire_prefix":"L","prefix_anchor":"L","level":1,"prior_prefix":"K","next_prefix":"M"},"12":{"id":249842,"text":"Statements, or any evidence derived therefrom, made to local department child-protective services personnel, or to any person performing the duties of such personnel, by any person accused of the abuse, injury, neglect or death of a child after the arrest of such person, shall not be used in evidence in the case-in-chief against such person in the criminal proceeding on the question of guilt or innocence over the objection of the accused, unless the statement was made after such person was fully advised (i) of his right to remain silent, (ii) that anything he says may be used against him in a court of law, (iii) that he has a right to the presence of an attorney during any interviews, and (iv) that if he cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for him prior to any questioning.","type":"section","prefixes":["M"],"prefix":"M","entire_prefix":"M","prefix_anchor":"M","level":1,"prior_prefix":"L","next_prefix":"N"},"13":{"id":249843,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the local department, in accordance with Board regulations, shall transmit information regarding reports, complaints, family assessments, and investigations involving children of active duty members of the United States Armed Forces or members of their household to family advocacy representatives of the United States Armed Forces.","type":"section","prefixes":["N"],"prefix":"N","entire_prefix":"N","prefix_anchor":"N","level":1,"prior_prefix":"M","next_prefix":"O"},"14":{"id":249844,"text":"The local department shall notify the custodial parent and make reasonable efforts to notify the noncustodial parent as those terms are defined in § 63.2-1900 of a report of suspected abuse or neglect of a child who is the subject of an investigation or is receiving family assessment, in those cases in which such custodial or noncustodial parent is not the subject of the investigation.","type":"section","prefixes":["O"],"prefix":"O","entire_prefix":"O","prefix_anchor":"O","level":1,"prior_prefix":"N","next_prefix":"P"},"15":{"id":249845,"text":"The local department shall (i) notify the Superintendent of Public Instruction without delay when an individual holding a license issued by the Board of Education is the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect and shall transmit identifying information regarding such individual if the local department knows the person holds a license issued by the Board of Education and (ii) notify the Superintendent of Public Instruction without delay if the founded complaint of child abuse or neglect is dismissed following an appeal pursuant to § 63.2-1526. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect the rights of any individual holding a license issued by the Board of Education to any hearings or appeals otherwise provided by law. Any information exchanged for the purpose of this subsection shall not be considered a violation of § 63.2-102, 63.2-104, or 63.2-105.","type":"section","prefixes":["P"],"prefix":"P","entire_prefix":"P","prefix_anchor":"P","level":1,"prior_prefix":"O"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13978,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13898,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:29","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:29","permalink":{"id":271711,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13978,"identifier":"1","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1","url":"\/63.2\/III\/15\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13898,"edition_id":1,"name":"Child Abuse and Neglect","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13897,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","permalink":{"id":271709,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13898,"identifier":"15","token":"63.2\/III\/15","url":"\/63.2\/III\/15\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13897,"edition_id":1,"name":"Social Services Programs","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12789,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","permalink":{"id":271331,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13897,"identifier":"III","token":"63.2\/III","url":"\/63.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12789,"edition_id":1,"name":"Welfare (Social Services)","identifier":"63.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":270661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12789,"identifier":"63.2","token":"63.2","url":"\/63.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":55048,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1500","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/63.2-1500\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1500","metadata":false},{"id":71740,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1501","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/63.2-1501\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1501","metadata":false},{"id":74685,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1502","catch_line":"Establishment of Child-Protective Services Unit; duties","url":"\/63.2-1502\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1502","metadata":false},{"id":69022,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1503","catch_line":"Local departments to establish child-protective services; duties","url":"\/63.2-1503\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1503","metadata":false},{"id":76900,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1504","catch_line":"Child-protective services differential response system","url":"\/63.2-1504\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1504","metadata":false},{"id":73140,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1505","catch_line":"Investigations by local departments","url":"\/63.2-1505\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1505","metadata":false},{"id":77537,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1506","catch_line":"Family assessments by local departments","url":"\/63.2-1506\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1506","metadata":false},{"id":85074,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1506.1","catch_line":"Human trafficking assessments by local departments","url":"\/63.2-1506.1\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1506.1","metadata":false},{"id":87395,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1507","catch_line":"Cooperation by state entities","url":"\/63.2-1507\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1507","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":74685,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1502","catch_line":"Establishment of Child-Protective Services Unit; duties","url":"\/63.2-1502\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1502","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":76900,"structure_id":13978,"section_number":"63.2-1504","catch_line":"Child-protective services differential response system","url":"\/63.2-1504\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1504","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1503\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1975. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 341 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 1975 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 20 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 1978, chapter 747; in 1979, chapters 347 and 348; in 1984, chapter 392; in 1987, chapter 443; in 1989, chapters 109 and 547; in 1991, chapter 644; in 1992, chapters 214, 837, and 880; in 1993, chapters 506 and 955; in 1994, chapters 643<\/a>, 675<\/a>, and 840<\/a>; in 1996, chapters 858<\/a> and 863<\/a>; in 1998, chapters 704<\/a> and 716<\/a>; in 2000, chapters 500<\/a> and 854<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 747<\/a>; in 2004, chapters 114<\/a>, 220<\/a>, and 886<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 474<\/a> and 827<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 813<\/a> and 840<\/a>; in 2014, chapters 300<\/a> and 565<\/a>; in 2017, chapters 88<\/a> and 142<\/a>; in 2018, chapters 5<\/a>, 209<\/a>, and 823<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 829<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":58950,"section_number":"2.2-3803","catch_line":"Administration of systems including personal information; Internet privacy policy; exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3803\/"},{"id":84798,"section_number":"2.2-3815","catch_line":"Access to social security numbers prohibited; exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3815\/"},{"id":67203,"section_number":"63.2-105","catch_line":"Confidential records and information concerning social services; child-protective services and child-placing agencies","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-105\/"},{"id":66780,"section_number":"63.2-1511","catch_line":"Complaints of abuse and neglect against school personnel; interagency agreement","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1511\/"},{"id":59659,"section_number":"63.2-1530","catch_line":"Virginia Child Protection Accountability System","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1530\/"},{"id":71015,"section_number":"9.1-153","catch_line":"Volunteer court-appointed special advocates; powers and duties; assignment; qualifications; training","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-153\/"},{"id":66402,"section_number":"9.1-156","catch_line":"Inspection and copying of records by advocate; confidentiality of records","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-156\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":66060,"section_number":"18.2-371","catch_line":"Causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc.; penalty; abandoned infant","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-371\/"},{"id":61326,"section_number":"18.2-374.1","catch_line":"Production, publication, sale, financing, etc., of child pornography; presumption as to age","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-374.1\/"},{"id":77897,"section_number":"2.2-5207","catch_line":"Family assessment and planning team; membership; immunity from liability","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-5207\/"},{"id":72691,"section_number":"63.2-102","catch_line":"Allowing access to records and information for public assistance programs and child support enforcement; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-102\/"},{"id":71351,"section_number":"63.2-104","catch_line":"Confidential records and information concerning social services; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-104\/"},{"id":67203,"section_number":"63.2-105","catch_line":"Confidential records and information concerning social services; child-protective services and child-placing agencies","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-105\/"},{"id":76900,"section_number":"63.2-1504","catch_line":"Child-protective services differential response system","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1504\/"},{"id":73140,"section_number":"63.2-1505","catch_line":"Investigations by local departments","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1505\/"},{"id":79084,"section_number":"63.2-1526","catch_line":"Appeals of certain actions of local departments","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1526\/"},{"id":54048,"section_number":"63.2-1900","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1900\/"},{"id":80819,"section_number":"9.1-902","catch_line":"Offenses requiring registration","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-902\/"}],"permalink":{"id":271725,"object_type":"law","relational_id":69022,"identifier":"63.2-1503","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1503","url":"\/63.2-1503\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1503\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/1\/63.2-1503","dublin_core":{"Title":"Local departments to establish child-protective services; duties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1503","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Each local department<\/span> shall establish child<\/span>-protective services<\/span> under a departmental coordinator within such department or with one or more adjacent local departments<\/span> that shall be staffed with qualified personnel pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board<\/span>. The local department<\/span> shall be the public agency responsible for receiving and responding to complaints and reports, except that (i) in cases where the reports or complaints are to be made to the court<\/span> and the judge<\/span> determines that no local department<\/span> within a reasonable geographic distance can impartially respond to the report, the court<\/span> shall assign the report to the court<\/span> services unit for evaluation; and (ii) in cases where an employee at a private or state-operated hospital, institution or other facility, or an employee of a school board<\/span> is suspected of abusing or neglecting a child<\/span> in such hospital, institution or other facility, or public school, the local department<\/span> shall request the Department and the relevant private or state-operated hospital, institution or other facility, or school board<\/span> to assist in conducting a joint investigation in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board<\/span>, in consultation with the Departments of Education, Health, Medical Assistance Services, Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Juvenile Justice and Corrections. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The local department<\/span> shall ensure, through its own personnel or through cooperative arrangements with other local agencies, the capability of receiving reports or complaints and responding to them promptly on a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-per-week basis. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The local department<\/span> shall widely publicize a telephone number for receiving complaints and reports. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The local department<\/span> shall notify the local attorney for the Commonwealth and the local law<\/span>-enforcement agency of all complaints of suspected child<\/span> abuse or neglect involving (i) any death of a child<\/span>; (ii) any injury or threatened injury to the child<\/span> in which a felony<\/span> or Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span> is also suspected; (iii) any sexual abuse, suspected sexual abuse or other sexual offense<\/span> involving a child<\/span>, including but not limited to the use or display of the child<\/span> in sexually explicit visual material<\/span>, as defined in § 18.2-374.1<\/a>; (iv) any abduction of a child<\/span>; (v) any felony<\/span> or Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span> drug offense<\/span> involving a child<\/span>; or (vi) contributing to the delinquency of a minor<\/span> in violation of § 18.2-371<\/a>, immediately, but in no case more than two hours of receipt of the complaint, and shall provide the attorney for the Commonwealth and the local law<\/span>-enforcement agency with records and information of the local department<\/span>, including records related to any complaints of abuse or neglect involving the victim or the alleged perpetrator, related to the investigation of the complaint. The local department<\/span> shall notify the local attorney for the Commonwealth of all complaints of suspected child<\/span> abuse or neglect involving the child<\/span>’s being left alone in the same dwelling with a person to whom the child<\/span> is not related by blood or marriage and who has been convicted of an offense<\/span> against a minor<\/span> for which registration is required as a Tier III offender pursuant to § 9.1-902<\/a>, immediately, but in no case more than two hours of receipt of the complaint, and shall provide the attorney for the Commonwealth with records and information of the local department<\/span> that would help determine whether a violation of post-release conditions, probation<\/span>, parole<\/span>, or court order<\/span> has occurred due to the nonrelative offender’s contact with the child<\/span>. The local department<\/span> shall not allow reports of the death of the victim from other local agencies to substitute for direct reports to the attorney for the Commonwealth and the local law<\/span>-enforcement agency. The local department<\/span> shall develop, when practicable, memoranda of understanding for responding to reports of child<\/span> abuse and neglect with local law<\/span> enforcement and the attorney for the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tIn each case in which the local department<\/span> notifies the local law<\/span>-enforcement agency of a complaint pursuant to this subsection, the local department<\/span> shall, within two business days of delivery of the notification, complete a written report, on a form provided by the Board<\/span> for such purpose, which shall include (a) the name of the representative of the local department<\/span> providing notice required by this subsection; (b) the name of the local law<\/span>-enforcement officer who received such notice; (c) the date and time that notification was made; (d) the identity of the victim; (e) the identity of the person alleged to have abused or neglected the child<\/span>, if known; (f) the clause or clauses in this subsection that describe the reasons for the notification; and (g) the signatures, which may be electronic signatures, of the representatives of the local department<\/span> making the notification and the local law<\/span>-enforcement officer receiving the notification. Such report shall be included in the record of the investigation and may be submitted either in writing or electronically. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> When abuse or neglect is suspected in any case involving the death of a child<\/span>, the local department<\/span> shall report the case immediately to the regional medical examiner and the local law<\/span>-enforcement agency. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The local department<\/span> shall use reasonable diligence to locate (i) any child<\/span> for whom a report of suspected abuse or neglect has been received and is under investigation, receiving family assessment, or for whom a founded determination of abuse and neglect has been made and a child<\/span>-protective services<\/span> case opened and (ii) persons who are the subject of a report that is under investigation or receiving family assessment, if the whereabouts of the child<\/span> or such persons are unknown to the local department<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> When an abused or neglected child<\/span> and the persons who are the subject of an open child-protective services<\/span> case have relocated out of the jurisdiction<\/span> of the local department<\/span>, the local department<\/span> shall notify the child-protective services<\/span> agency in the jurisdiction<\/span> to which such persons have relocated, whether inside or outside of the Commonwealth, and forward to such agency relevant portions of the case record. The receiving local department<\/span> shall arrange protective and rehabilitative services as required by this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> When a child for whom a report of suspected abuse or neglect has been received and is under investigation or receiving family assessment and the child and the child’s parents or other persons responsible for the child’s care who are the subject of the report that is under investigation or family assessment have relocated out of the jurisdiction<\/span> of the local department<\/span>, the local department<\/span> shall notify the child-protective services<\/span> agency in the jurisdiction<\/span> to which the child and such persons have relocated, whether inside or outside of the Commonwealth, and complete such investigation or family assessment by requesting such agency’s assistance in completing the investigation or family assessment. The local department<\/span> that completes the investigation or family assessment shall forward to the receiving agency relevant portions of the case record in order for the receiving agency to arrange protective and rehabilitative services as required by this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

I.<\/span> Upon receipt of a report of child abuse or neglect, the local department<\/span> shall determine the validity of such report and shall make a determination to conduct an investigation pursuant to § 63.2-1505<\/a> or, if designated as a child-protective services<\/span> differential response agency by the Department according to § 63.2-1504<\/a>, a family assessment pursuant to § 63.2-1506<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

J.<\/span> The local department<\/span> shall foster, when practicable, the creation, maintenance and coordination of hospital and community-based multidisciplinary teams that shall include where possible, but not be limited to, members of the medical, mental health, social work, nursing, education, legal and law<\/span>-enforcement professions. Such teams shall assist the local departments<\/span> in identifying abused and neglected children; coordinating medical, social, and legal services for the children and their families; developing innovative programs for detection and prevention<\/span> of child abuse; promoting community concern and action in the area of child abuse and neglect; and disseminating information to the general public with respect to the problem of child abuse and neglect and the facilities and prevention<\/span> and treatment methods available to combat child abuse and neglect. These teams may be the family assessment and planning teams established pursuant to § 2.2-5207<\/a>. Multidisciplinary teams may develop agreements regarding the exchange of information among the parties for the purposes of the investigation and disposition<\/span> of complaints of child abuse and neglect, delivery of services and child protection. Any information exchanged in accordance with the agreement shall not be considered to be a violation of the provisions of § 63.2-102<\/a>, 63.2-104<\/a>, or 63.2-105<\/a>.\n\t\t\tThe local department<\/span> shall also coordinate its efforts in the provision of these services for abused and neglected children with the judge<\/span> and staff of the court. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

K.<\/span> The local department<\/span> may develop multidisciplinary teams to provide consultation to the local department<\/span> during the investigation of selected cases involving child abuse or neglect, and to make recommendations regarding the prosecution<\/span> of such cases. These teams may include, but are not limited to, members of the medical, mental health, legal and law<\/span>-enforcement professions, including the attorney for the Commonwealth or his designee; a local child-protective services<\/span> representative; and the guardian ad litem<\/span> or other court-appointed advocate for the child. Any information exchanged for the purpose of such consultation shall not be considered a violation of § 63.2-102<\/a>, 63.2-104<\/a>, or 63.2-105<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

L.<\/span> The local department<\/span> shall report annually on its activities concerning abused and neglected children to the court and to the Child-Protective Services<\/span> Unit in the Department on forms provided by the Department. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

M.<\/span> Statements, or any evidence<\/span> derived therefrom, made to local department<\/span> child-protective services<\/span> personnel, or to any person performing the duties of such personnel, by any person accused<\/span> of the abuse, injury, neglect or death of a child after the arrest<\/span> of such person, shall not be used in evidence<\/span> in the case-in-chief against such person in the criminal proceeding on the question of guilt or innocence over the objection of the accused<\/span>, unless the statement was made after such person was fully advised (i) of his right to remain silent, (ii) that anything he says may be used against him in a court of law<\/span>, (iii) that he has a right to the presence of an attorney during any interviews, and (iv) that if he cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for him prior to any questioning. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

N.<\/span> Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span>, the local department<\/span>, in accordance with Board<\/span> regulations, shall transmit information regarding reports, complaints, family assessments, and investigations involving children of active duty members of the United States Armed Forces or members of their household to family advocacy representatives of the United States Armed Forces. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

O.<\/span> The local department<\/span> shall notify the custodial parent and make reasonable efforts to notify the noncustodial parent as those terms are defined in § 63.2-1900<\/a> of a report of suspected abuse or neglect of a child who is the subject of an investigation or is receiving family assessment, in those cases in which such custodial or noncustodial parent is not the subject of the investigation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

P.<\/span> The local department<\/span> shall (i) notify the Superintendent of Public Instruction without delay when an individual holding a license issued by the Board<\/span> of Education is the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect and shall transmit identifying information regarding such individual if the local department<\/span> knows the person holds a license issued by the Board<\/span> of Education and (ii) notify the Superintendent of Public Instruction without delay if the founded complaint of child abuse or neglect is dismissed following an appeal<\/span> pursuant to § 63.2-1526<\/a>. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect the rights of any individual holding a license issued by the Board<\/span> of Education to any hearings<\/span> or appeals<\/span> otherwise provided by law<\/span>. Any information exchanged for the purpose of this subsection shall not be considered a violation of § 63.2-102<\/a>, 63.2-104<\/a>, or 63.2-105<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLOCAL DEPARTMENTS TO ESTABLISH CHILD-PROTECTIVE SERVICES; DUTIES (\u00a7 63.2-1503)\n\nA. Each local department shall establish child-protective services under a\ndepartmental coordinator within such department or with one or more adjacent\nlocal departments that shall be staffed with qualified personnel pursuant to\nregulations adopted by the Board. The local department shall be the public\nagency responsible for receiving and responding to complaints and reports,\nexcept that (i) in cases where the reports or complaints are to be made to the\ncourt and the judge determines that no local department within a reasonable\ngeographic distance can impartially respond to the report, the court shall\nassign the report to the court services unit for evaluation; and (ii) in cases\nwhere an employee at a private or state-operated hospital, institution or other\nfacility, or an employee of a school board is suspected of abusing or neglecting\na child in such hospital, institution or other facility, or public school, the\nlocal department shall request the Department and the relevant private or\nstate-operated hospital, institution or other facility, or school board to\nassist in conducting a joint investigation in accordance with regulations\nadopted by the Board, in consultation with the Departments of Education, Health,\nMedical Assistance Services, Behavioral Health and Developmental Services,\nJuvenile Justice and Corrections.\n\nB. The local department shall ensure, through its own personnel or through\ncooperative arrangements with other local agencies, the capability of receiving\nreports or complaints and responding to them promptly on a 24-hours-a-day,\nseven-days-per-week basis.\n\nC. The local department shall widely publicize a telephone number for receiving\ncomplaints and reports.\n\nD. The local department shall notify the local attorney for the Commonwealth and\nthe local law-enforcement agency of all complaints of suspected child abuse or\nneglect involving (i) any death of a child; (ii) any injury or threatened injury\nto the child in which a felony or Class 1 misdemeanor is also suspected; (iii)\nany sexual abuse, suspected sexual abuse or other sexual offense involving a\nchild, including but not limited to the use or display of the child in sexually\nexplicit visual material, as defined in § 18.2-374.1; (iv) any abduction of\na child; (v) any felony or Class 1 misdemeanor drug offense involving a child;\nor (vi) contributing to the delinquency of a minor in violation of §\n18.2-371, immediately, but in no case more than two hours of receipt of the\ncomplaint, and shall provide the attorney for the Commonwealth and the local\nlaw-enforcement agency with records and information of the local department,\nincluding records related to any complaints of abuse or neglect involving the\nvictim or the alleged perpetrator, related to the investigation of the\ncomplaint. The local department shall notify the local attorney for the\nCommonwealth of all complaints of suspected child abuse or neglect involving the\nchild’s being left alone in the same dwelling with a person to whom the\nchild is not related by blood or marriage and who has been convicted of an\noffense against a minor for which registration is required as a Tier III\noffender pursuant to § 9.1-902, immediately, but in no case more than two\nhours of receipt of the complaint, and shall provide the attorney for the\nCommonwealth with records and information of the local department that would\nhelp determine whether a violation of post-release conditions, probation,\nparole, or court order has occurred due to the nonrelative offender’s\ncontact with the child. The local department shall not allow reports of the\ndeath of the victim from other local agencies to substitute for direct reports\nto the attorney for the Commonwealth and the local law-enforcement agency. The\nlocal department shall develop, when practicable, memoranda of understanding for\nresponding to reports of child abuse and neglect with local law enforcement and\nthe attorney for the Commonwealth.\n\t\t\tIn each case in which the local department notifies the local law-enforcement\nagency of a complaint pursuant to this subsection, the local department shall,\nwithin two business days of delivery of the notification, complete a written\nreport, on a form provided by the Board for such purpose, which shall include\n(a) the name of the representative of the local department providing notice\nrequired by this subsection; (b) the name of the local law-enforcement officer\nwho received such notice; (c) the date and time that notification was made; (d)\nthe identity of the victim; (e) the identity of the person alleged to have\nabused or neglected the child, if known; (f) the clause or clauses in this\nsubsection that describe the reasons for the notification; and (g) the\nsignatures, which may be electronic signatures, of the representatives of the\nlocal department making the notification and the local law-enforcement officer\nreceiving the notification. Such report shall be included in the record of the\ninvestigation and may be submitted either in writing or electronically.\n\nE. When abuse or neglect is suspected in any case involving the death of a\nchild, the local department shall report the case immediately to the regional\nmedical examiner and the local law-enforcement agency.\n\nF. The local department shall use reasonable diligence to locate (i) any child\nfor whom a report of suspected abuse or neglect has been received and is under\ninvestigation, receiving family assessment, or for whom a founded determination\nof abuse and neglect has been made and a child-protective services case opened\nand (ii) persons who are the subject of a report that is under investigation or\nreceiving family assessment, if the whereabouts of the child or such persons are\nunknown to the local department.\n\nG. When an abused or neglected child and the persons who are the subject of an\nopen child-protective services case have relocated out of the jurisdiction of\nthe local department, the local department shall notify the child-protective\nservices agency in the jurisdiction to which such persons have relocated,\nwhether inside or outside of the Commonwealth, and forward to such agency\nrelevant portions of the case record. The receiving local department shall\narrange protective and rehabilitative services as required by this section.\n\nH. When a child for whom a report of suspected abuse or neglect has been\nreceived and is under investigation or receiving family assessment and the child\nand the child’s parents or other persons responsible for the child’s\ncare who are the subject of the report that is under investigation or family\nassessment have relocated out of the jurisdiction of the local department, the\nlocal department shall notify the child-protective services agency in the\njurisdiction to which the child and such persons have relocated, whether inside\nor outside of the Commonwealth, and complete such investigation or family\nassessment by requesting such agency’s assistance in completing the\ninvestigation or family assessment. The local department that completes the\ninvestigation or family assessment shall forward to the receiving agency\nrelevant portions of the case record in order for the receiving agency to\narrange protective and rehabilitative services as required by this section.\n\nI. Upon receipt of a report of child abuse or neglect, the local department\nshall determine the validity of such report and shall make a determination to\nconduct an investigation pursuant to § 63.2-1505 or, if designated as a\nchild-protective services differential response agency by the Department\naccording to § 63.2-1504, a family assessment pursuant to § 63.2-1506.\n\nJ. The local department shall foster, when practicable, the creation,\nmaintenance and coordination of hospital and community-based multidisciplinary\nteams that shall include where possible, but not be limited to, members of the\nmedical, mental health, social work, nursing, education, legal and\nlaw-enforcement professions. Such teams shall assist the local departments in\nidentifying abused and neglected children; coordinating medical, social, and\nlegal services for the children and their families; developing innovative\nprograms for detection and prevention of child abuse; promoting community\nconcern and action in the area of child abuse and neglect; and disseminating\ninformation to the general public with respect to the problem of child abuse and\nneglect and the facilities and prevention and treatment methods available to\ncombat child abuse and neglect. These teams may be the family assessment and\nplanning teams established pursuant to § 2.2-5207. Multidisciplinary teams\nmay develop agreements regarding the exchange of information among the parties\nfor the purposes of the investigation and disposition of complaints of child\nabuse and neglect, delivery of services and child protection. Any information\nexchanged in accordance with the agreement shall not be considered to be a\nviolation of the provisions of § 63.2-102, 63.2-104, or 63.2-105.\n\t\t\tThe local department shall also coordinate its efforts in the provision of\nthese services for abused and neglected children with the judge and staff of the\ncourt.\n\nK. The local department may develop multidisciplinary teams to provide\nconsultation to the local department during the investigation of selected cases\ninvolving child abuse or neglect, and to make recommendations regarding the\nprosecution of such cases. These teams may include, but are not limited to,\nmembers of the medical, mental health, legal and law-enforcement professions,\nincluding the attorney for the Commonwealth or his designee; a local\nchild-protective services representative; and the guardian ad litem or other\ncourt-appointed advocate for the child. Any information exchanged for the\npurpose of such consultation shall not be considered a violation of §\n63.2-102, 63.2-104, or 63.2-105.\n\nL. The local department shall report annually on its activities concerning\nabused and neglected children to the court and to the Child-Protective Services\nUnit in the Department on forms provided by the Department.\n\nM. Statements, or any evidence derived therefrom, made to local department\nchild-protective services personnel, or to any person performing the duties of\nsuch personnel, by any person accused of the abuse, injury, neglect or death of\na child after the arrest of such person, shall not be used in evidence in the\ncase-in-chief against such person in the criminal proceeding on the question of\nguilt or innocence over the objection of the accused, unless the statement was\nmade after such person was fully advised (i) of his right to remain silent, (ii)\nthat anything he says may be used against him in a court of law, (iii) that he\nhas a right to the presence of an attorney during any interviews, and (iv) that\nif he cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for him prior to any\nquestioning.\n\nN. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the local department, in\naccordance with Board regulations, shall transmit information regarding reports,\ncomplaints, family assessments, and investigations involving children of active\nduty members of the United States Armed Forces or members of their household to\nfamily advocacy representatives of the United States Armed Forces.\n\nO. The local department shall notify the custodial parent and make reasonable\nefforts to notify the noncustodial parent as those terms are defined in §\n63.2-1900 of a report of suspected abuse or neglect of a child who is the\nsubject of an investigation or is receiving family assessment, in those cases in\nwhich such custodial or noncustodial parent is not the subject of the\ninvestigation.\n\nP. The local department shall (i) notify the Superintendent of Public\nInstruction without delay when an individual holding a license issued by the\nBoard of Education is the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or\nneglect and shall transmit identifying information regarding such individual if\nthe local department knows the person holds a license issued by the Board of\nEducation and (ii) notify the Superintendent of Public Instruction without delay\nif the founded complaint of child abuse or neglect is dismissed following an\nappeal pursuant to § 63.2-1526. Nothing in this subsection shall be\nconstrued to affect the rights of any individual holding a license issued by the\nBoard of Education to any hearings or appeals otherwise provided by law. Any\ninformation exchanged for the purpose of this subsection shall not be considered\na violation of § 63.2-102, 63.2-104, or 63.2-105.\n\nHISTORY: 1975, c. 341, \u00a7 63.1-248.6; 1978, c. 747; 1979, cc. 347, 348; 1984, c.\n392; 1987, c. 443; 1989, cc. 109, 547; 1991, c. 644; 1992, cc. 214, 837, 880;\n1993, cc. 506, 955; 1994, cc. 643, 675, 840; 1996, cc. 858, 863; 1998, cc. 704,\n716; 2000, cc. 500, 854; 2002, c. 747; 2004, cc. 114, 220, 886; 2008, cc. 474,\n827; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2014, cc. 300, 565; 2017, cc. 88, 142; 2018, cc. 5,\n209, 823; 2020, c. 829.","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}}