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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68644</law_id><section_number>16.1-259</section_number><catch_line>Procedure in cases of adults</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-237</reference><reference>16.1-260</reference><reference>16.1-263</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="5">Intake, Petition and Notice</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In cases where an <span class="dictionary">adult</span> is charged with violations of the criminal law pursuant to subsection I or J of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Jurisdiction; consent for abortion" href="/16.1-241/">16.1-241</a>, the procedure and <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> applicable in the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of such cases in general district court shall be applicable to <span class="dictionary">trial</span> in <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span>. The provisions of <span class="dictionary">this law</span> shall govern in all other cases involving <span class="dictionary">adults</span>. <a id="paragraph-248448" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-259/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Proceedings in cases of <span class="dictionary">adults</span> may be instituted on <span class="dictionary">petition</span> by any interested <span class="dictionary">party</span>, or on a warrant issued as provided by law, or upon <span class="dictionary">the court</span>&#x2019;s own <span class="dictionary">motion</span>. <a id="paragraph-248449" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-259/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Proceedings in cases of <span class="dictionary">adults</span> under the age of 21 who are alleged to have committed, before attaining the age of 18, an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> that would be a <span class="dictionary">crime</span> if committed by an <span class="dictionary">adult</span> shall be commenced by the filing of a <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. <a id="paragraph-248450" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-259/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Proceedings for violations of <span class="dictionary">probation</span> or <span class="dictionary">parole</span> in cases of <span class="dictionary">adults</span> under the age of 21 where <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> is retained pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Retention of jurisdiction" href="/16.1-242/">16.1-242</a> shall be commenced by the filing of a <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. <a id="paragraph-248451" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-259/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 16.1-186; 1956, c. 555; 1977, c. 559; 1986, c. 95; 2016, c. 626.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
