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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56829</law_id><section_number>16.1-249</section_number><catch_line>Places of confinement for juveniles</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-247</reference><reference>16.1-254</reference><reference>16.1-269.5</reference><reference>18.2-64.1</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="4">Immediate Custody, Arrest, Detention and Shelter Care</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If it is ordered that a juvenile remain in detention or <span class="dictionary">shelter care</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Criteria for detention or shelter care" href="/16.1-248.1/">16.1-248.1</a>, such juvenile may be detained, pending a <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>, in the following places: <a id="paragraph-208125" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> An approved foster home or a home otherwise authorized by <span class="dictionary">law</span> to provide such care; <a id="paragraph-208126" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A facility operated by a licensed <span class="dictionary">child welfare agency</span>; <a id="paragraph-208127" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If a juvenile is alleged to be delinquent, a <span class="dictionary">detention home</span> or group home approved by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>; <a id="paragraph-208128" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Any other suitable place designated by <span class="dictionary">the court</span> and approved by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>; <a id="paragraph-208129" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> To the extent permitted by federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>, a separate juvenile detention facility located upon the site of an <span class="dictionary">adult</span> regional <span class="dictionary">jail</span> facility established by any county, city or any combination thereof constructed after 1994, approved by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Juvenile Justice and certified by the Board of Juvenile Justice for the holding and detention of juveniles.
				A juvenile younger than 11 years of age who is alleged to have committed one or more of the <span class="dictionary">delinquent acts</span> enumerated in subsection B or C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand" href="/16.1-269.1/">16.1-269.1</a> and who is ordered to remain in detention or <span class="dictionary">shelter care</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Criteria for detention or shelter care" href="/16.1-248.1/">16.1-248.1</a> pending a court <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> may only be detained in a place described in subdivision 1, 2, or 4, but under no circumstances shall such juvenile be detained pursuant to this section in a secure detention facility. <a id="paragraph-208130" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No juvenile shall be detained or confined in any <span class="dictionary">jail</span> or other facility for the detention of <span class="dictionary">adult</span> offenders or persons charged with <span class="dictionary">crime</span> except as provided in subsection D, E, F or G. <a id="paragraph-208131" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The official in charge of a <span class="dictionary">jail</span> or other facility for the detention of <span class="dictionary">adult</span> offenders or persons charged with <span class="dictionary">crime</span> shall inform <span class="dictionary">the court</span> immediately when a juvenile who is or appears to be under the age of 18 years is received at the facility, and shall deliver him to <span class="dictionary">the court</span> upon request, or transfer him to a detention facility designated by <span class="dictionary">the court</span>. <a id="paragraph-208132" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> When a case is transferred to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court in accordance with the provisions of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand" href="/16.1-269.1/">16.1-269.1</a> and an <span class="dictionary">order</span> is entered by the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Circuit court hearing; jury; termination of juvenile court jurisdiction; objections and appeals" href="/16.1-269.6/">16.1-269.6</a>, or in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Waiver of jurisdiction of juvenile court in certain cases" href="/16.1-270/">16.1-270</a> where the juvenile has waived the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the district court, or when the district court has certified a charge to the <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> pursuant to subsection B or C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand" href="/16.1-269.1/">16.1-269.1</a>, the juvenile, if in confinement, shall be placed in a juvenile <span class="dictionary">secure facility</span>, unless <span class="dictionary">the court</span> determines that the juvenile is a threat to the security or safety of the other juveniles detained or the staff of the facility, in which case <span class="dictionary">the court</span> may transfer the juvenile to a <span class="dictionary">jail</span> or other facility for the detention of <span class="dictionary">adults</span>, provided that the facility is approved by the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span> of Local and Regional <span class="dictionary">Jails</span> for the detention of juveniles. <a id="paragraph-208133" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> If, in the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of the custodian, a juvenile has demonstrated that he is a threat to the security or safety of the other juveniles detained or the staff of the home or facility, <span class="dictionary">the judge</span> shall determine whether such juvenile should be transferred to another juvenile facility or, if the child is 14 years of age or older, a <span class="dictionary">jail</span> or other facility for the detention of <span class="dictionary">adults</span>, provided that (i) the detention is in a room or ward entirely separate and removed from <span class="dictionary">adults</span>, (ii) adequate supervision is provided, and (iii) the facility is approved by the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span> of Local and Regional <span class="dictionary">Jails</span> for detention of juveniles. <a id="paragraph-208134" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> If, in the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of the custodian, it has been demonstrated that the presence of a juvenile in a facility creates a threat to the security or safety of the other juveniles detained or the staff of the home or facility, the custodian may transfer the juvenile to another juvenile facility, or, if the child is 14 years of age or older, a <span class="dictionary">jail</span> or other facility for the detention of <span class="dictionary">adults</span> pursuant to the limitations of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection E for a period not to exceed six hours prior to a court <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and an additional six hours after <span class="dictionary">the court</span> <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> unless a longer period is ordered pursuant to subsection E. <a id="paragraph-208135" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> If a juvenile 14 years of age or older is charged with an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> which, if committed by an <span class="dictionary">adult</span>, would be a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> or Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>, and <span class="dictionary">the judge</span> or <span class="dictionary">intake officer</span> determines that secure detention is needed for the safety of the juvenile or the community, such juvenile may be detained for a period not to exceed six hours prior to a court <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> and six hours after <span class="dictionary">the court</span> <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> in a temporary lock-up room or ward for juveniles while arrangements are completed to transfer the juvenile to a juvenile facility. Such room or ward may be located in a building which also contains a <span class="dictionary">jail</span> or other facility for the detention of <span class="dictionary">adults</span>, provided that (i) such room or ward is totally separate and removed from <span class="dictionary">adults</span> or juveniles transferred to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court pursuant to Article 7 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand" href="/16.1-269.1/">16.1-269.1</a> et seq.), (ii) constant supervision is provided, and (iii) the facility is approved by the <span class="dictionary">State Board</span> of Local and Regional <span class="dictionary">Jails</span> for the detention of juveniles. The <span class="dictionary">State Board</span> of Local and Regional <span class="dictionary">Jails</span> is authorized and directed to prescribe minimum standards for temporary lock-up rooms and wards based on the requirements set out in this subsection. <a id="paragraph-208136" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G1"><p><span class="prefix-number">G1.</span> Any juvenile who has been ordered detained in a secure detention facility pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Criteria for detention or shelter care" href="/16.1-248.1/">16.1-248.1</a> may be held incident to a court <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> (i) in a court holding cell for a period not to exceed six hours, provided that the juvenile is entirely separate and removed from detained <span class="dictionary">adults</span>, or (ii) in a nonsecure area, provided that constant supervision is provided. <a id="paragraph-208137" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#G1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> If a judge, <span class="dictionary">intake officer</span> or <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span> <span class="dictionary">orders</span> the predispositional detention of persons 18 years of age or older, such detention shall be in an <span class="dictionary">adult</span> facility; however, if the predispositional detention is ordered for a violation of the terms and conditions of release from a juvenile correctional center, <span class="dictionary">the judge</span>, <span class="dictionary">intake officer</span> or <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span> may <span class="dictionary">order</span> such detention be in a juvenile facility. <a id="paragraph-208138" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="I"><p><span class="prefix-number">I.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Departments</span> of Corrections, Juvenile Justice and Criminal Justice Services shall assist the localities or combinations thereof in implementing this section and ensuring compliance herewith. <a id="paragraph-208139" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-249/#I"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1977, c. 559; 1979, c. 655; 1983, c. 336; 1985, c. 260; 1988, c. 886; 1989, c. 557; 1993, c. 435; 1994, cc. 859, 904, 949; 1995, cc. 746, 748, 798, 802; 1996, cc. 755, 914; 1998, cc. 576, 830; 2002, c. 558; 2004, cc. 415, 439; 2010, c. 739; 2018, cc. 36, 73; 2020, c. 759; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 115.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
