{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/66-20.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/66-20.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/66-20.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/66-20.html"}],"law_id":74255,"edition_id":1,"section_id":74255,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-20","catch_line":"Observation and treatment of children with mental illness or developmental disabilities","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 53-329.1; 1977, c. 559; 1978, c. 739; 1981, c. 487; 1982, c. 636, \u00a7 53.1-245; 1989, c. 733; 1990, c. 975; 2012, cc. 476, 507; 2017, c. 458.","full_text":"After commitment of any child to the Department, if the Department finds, as a result of psychiatric examinations and case study, that such child has mental illness or a developmental disability, it shall be the duty of the Department to obtain treatment for the child’s mental condition. If the Department determines that transfer to a state hospital, training center, or other appropriate treatment facility is required to further diagnose or treat the child’s mental condition, the proceedings shall be in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 37.2-806 or \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-341 through 16.1-345, except that provisions requiring consent of the child’s parent or guardian for treatment shall not apply in such cases. No child transferred to a state hospital pursuant to this section or the provisions of Title 37.2 shall, however, be held or cared for in any maximum security unit where adults determined to be criminally insane reside and such child shall be kept separate and apart from such adults.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":266960,"text":"After commitment of any child to the Department, if the Department finds, as a result of psychiatric examinations and case study, that such child has mental illness or a developmental disability, it shall be the duty of the Department to obtain treatment for the child’s mental condition. If the Department determines that transfer to a state hospital, training center, or other appropriate treatment facility is required to further diagnose or treat the child’s mental condition, the proceedings shall be in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 37.2-806 or \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-341 through 16.1-345, except that provisions requiring consent of the child’s parent or guardian for treatment shall not apply in such cases. No child transferred to a state hospital pursuant to this section or the provisions of Title 37.2 shall, however, be held or cared for in any maximum security unit where adults determined to be criminally insane reside and such child shall be kept separate and apart from such adults.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14524,"edition_id":1,"name":"Care of Children Committed to Department","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14314,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:31","permalink":{"id":276871,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14524,"identifier":"2","token":"66\/2","url":"\/66\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14314,"edition_id":1,"name":"Juvenile Justice","identifier":"66","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:43","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:43","permalink":{"id":276795,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14314,"identifier":"66","token":"66","url":"\/66\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":68101,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-13","catch_line":"Authority of Department as to juveniles committed to it; establishment of facilities; arrangements for temporary care","url":"\/66-13\/","token":"66\/2\/66-13","metadata":false},{"id":55961,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-13.1","catch_line":"Division of Education; employment of Superintendent; powers and duties","url":"\/66-13.1\/","token":"66\/2\/66-13.1","metadata":false},{"id":83009,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-14","catch_line":"Allowance for maintenance of children placed by Commonwealth in private homes, etc","url":"\/66-14\/","token":"66\/2\/66-14","metadata":false},{"id":77714,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-15","catch_line":"Schedules of per diem cost of maintenance in detention homes; reimbursements of cities and counties","url":"\/66-15\/","token":"66\/2\/66-15","metadata":false},{"id":66994,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-16","catch_line":"Acceptance and expenditure of certain funds for children committed to Department","url":"\/66-16\/","token":"66\/2\/66-16","metadata":false},{"id":84350,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-17","catch_line":"Disposition of property left by child","url":"\/66-17\/","token":"66\/2\/66-17","metadata":false},{"id":82918,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-18","catch_line":"Examination and placing of such children","url":"\/66-18\/","token":"66\/2\/66-18","metadata":false},{"id":79224,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-19","catch_line":"Behavioral services unit; director and personnel; examination of children","url":"\/66-19\/","token":"66\/2\/66-19","metadata":false},{"id":74255,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-20","catch_line":"Observation and treatment of children with mental illness or developmental disabilities","url":"\/66-20\/","token":"66\/2\/66-20","metadata":false},{"id":84862,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-21","catch_line":"Superintendents and agents of facilities to have powers of sheriff","url":"\/66-21\/","token":"66\/2\/66-21","metadata":false},{"id":76178,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-21.1","catch_line":"Use of canines in juvenile correctional facilities; prohibited acts; exception","url":"\/66-21.1\/","token":"66\/2\/66-21.1","metadata":false},{"id":81592,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-22","catch_line":"Daily and additional allowance to children","url":"\/66-22\/","token":"66\/2\/66-22","metadata":false},{"id":75672,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-22.1","catch_line":"Establishment of stores in juvenile correctional facilities","url":"\/66-22.1\/","token":"66\/2\/66-22.1","metadata":false},{"id":80951,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-23","catch_line":"Authority of superintendents with regard to application for operator's licenses and employment certificates","url":"\/66-23\/","token":"66\/2\/66-23","metadata":false},{"id":73719,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-24","catch_line":"Community group homes and other residential facilities for certain juveniles; licensure; personnel; summary suspension under certain circumstances; penalty","url":"\/66-24\/","token":"66\/2\/66-24","metadata":false},{"id":70178,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-25","catch_line":"Collection of information concerning religious preferences by correctional facilities","url":"\/66-25\/","token":"66\/2\/66-25","metadata":false},{"id":67573,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-25.1","catch_line":"Work programs","url":"\/66-25.1\/","token":"66\/2\/66-25.1","metadata":false},{"id":81755,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-25.1:1","catch_line":"Juvenile academic and career training","url":"\/66-25.1_1\/","token":"66\/2\/66-25.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":67590,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-25.1:2","catch_line":"Career training and technical education programs","url":"\/66-25.1_2\/","token":"66\/2\/66-25.1_2","metadata":false},{"id":63482,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-25.1:3","catch_line":"Extending limits of confinement of state wards for work and educational programs; disposition of wages; penalties for violations","url":"\/66-25.1_3\/","token":"66\/2\/66-25.1_3","metadata":false},{"id":57052,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-25.1:4","catch_line":"Work release furlough","url":"\/66-25.1_4\/","token":"66\/2\/66-25.1_4","metadata":false},{"id":67748,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-25.2","catch_line":"Notice to be given prior to release of serious offenders","url":"\/66-25.2\/","token":"66\/2\/66-25.2","metadata":false},{"id":82378,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-25.2:1","catch_line":"Director; notice to school superintendent prior to release of certain offenders","url":"\/66-25.2_1\/","token":"66\/2\/66-25.2_1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":79224,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-19","catch_line":"Behavioral services unit; director and personnel; examination of children","url":"\/66-19\/","token":"66\/2\/66-19","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":84862,"structure_id":14524,"section_number":"66-21","catch_line":"Superintendents and agents of facilities to have powers of sheriff","url":"\/66-21\/","token":"66\/2\/66-21","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/66-20\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 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 1977, chapter 559; in 1978, chapter 739; in 1981, chapter 487; in 1982, chapter 636; in 1989, chapter 733; in 1990, chapter 975; in 2012, chapters 476<\/a> and 507<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 458<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":80409,"section_number":"16.1-341","catch_line":"Involuntary commitment; petition; hearing scheduled; notice and appointment of counsel","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-341\/"},{"id":58318,"section_number":"16.1-345","catch_line":"Involuntary commitment; criteria","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-345\/"},{"id":56013,"section_number":"37.2-806","catch_line":"Judicial certification of eligibility for admission of persons with intellectual disability","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-806\/"}],"permalink":{"id":276905,"object_type":"law","relational_id":74255,"identifier":"66-20","token":"66\/2\/66-20","url":"\/66-20\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/66-20\/","token":"66\/2\/66-20","dublin_core":{"Title":"Observation and treatment of children with mental illness or developmental disabilities","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 66-20","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

After commitment of any child<\/span> to the Department<\/span>, if the Department<\/span> finds, as a result of psychiatric examinations and case study, that such child<\/span> has mental illness or a developmental disability, it shall be the duty of the Department<\/span> to obtain treatment for the child<\/span>’s mental condition. If the Department<\/span> determines that transfer to a state hospital, training center, or other appropriate treatment facility is required to further diagnose or treat the child<\/span>’s mental condition, the proceedings shall be in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 37.2-806<\/a> or \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-341<\/a> through 16.1-345<\/a>, except that provisions requiring consent of the child<\/span>’s parent or guardian for treatment shall not apply in such cases. No child<\/span> transferred to a state hospital pursuant to this section or the provisions of Title 37.2 shall, however, be held or cared for in any maximum security unit where adults determined to be criminally insane reside and such child<\/span> shall be kept separate and apart from such adults.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOBSERVATION AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR DEVELOPMENTAL\nDISABILITIES (\u00a7 66-20)\n\nAfter commitment of any child to the Department, if the Department finds, as a\nresult of psychiatric examinations and case study, that such child has mental\nillness or a developmental disability, it shall be the duty of the Department to\nobtain treatment for the child’s mental condition. If the Department\ndetermines that transfer to a state hospital, training center, or other\nappropriate treatment facility is required to further diagnose or treat the\nchild’s mental condition, the proceedings shall be in accordance with the\nprovisions of \u00a7 37.2-806 or \u00a7\u00a7 16.1-341 through 16.1-345, except that\nprovisions requiring consent of the child’s parent or guardian for\ntreatment shall not apply in such cases. No child transferred to a state\nhospital pursuant to this section or the provisions of Title 37.2 shall,\nhowever, be held or cared for in any maximum security unit where adults\ndetermined to be criminally insane reside and such child shall be kept separate\nand apart from such adults.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 53-329.1; 1977, c. 559; 1978, c. 739; 1981, c. 487; 1982,\nc. 636, \u00a7 53.1-245; 1989, c. 733; 1990, c. 975; 2012, cc. 476, 507; 2017, c.\n458.","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}}