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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56028</law_id><section_number>16.1-227</section_number><catch_line>Purpose and intent</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-301</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="16.1">Courts Not of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="11">Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p><span class="dictionary">This law</span> shall be construed liberally and as remedial in character, and the powers hereby conferred are intended to be general to effect the beneficial purposes herein set forth. It is the intention of <span class="dictionary">this law</span> that in all proceedings the welfare of the child and the family, the safety of the community and the protection of the rights of victims are the paramount concerns of the Commonwealth and to the end that these purposes may be attained, <span class="dictionary">the judge</span> shall possess all necessary and incidental powers and authority, whether legal or <span class="dictionary">equitable</span> in their nature.
		<span class="dictionary">This law</span> shall be interpreted and construed so as to effectuate the following purposes:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To divert from or within the juvenile justice system, to the extent possible, consistent with the protection of the public safety, those children who can be cared for or treated through alternative programs; <a id="paragraph-205373" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-227/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To provide judicial procedures through which the provisions of <span class="dictionary">this law</span> are executed and enforced and in which the parties are assured a fair <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and their constitutional and other rights are recognized and enforced; <a id="paragraph-205374" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-227/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> To separate a child from such child&#x2019;s parents, guardian, legal custodian or other person standing in loco parentis only when the child&#x2019;s welfare is endangered or it is in the interest of public safety and then only after consideration of alternatives to out-of-home placement which afford effective protection to the child, his family, and the community; and <a id="paragraph-205375" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-227/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> To protect the community against those acts of its citizens, both juveniles and <span class="dictionary">adults</span>, which are harmful to others and to reduce the incidence of delinquent behavior and to hold offenders accountable for their behavior. <a id="paragraph-205376" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-227/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 16.1-140; 1956, c. 555; 1977, c. 559; 1990, c. 554; 1991, c. 392; 1996, cc. 755, 914.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
