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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68547</law_id><section_number>18.2-251</section_number><catch_line>Persons charged with first offense may be placed on probation; conditions; substance abuse screening, assessment treatment and education programs or services; drug tests; costs and fees; violations; discharge</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-278.8:01</reference><reference>16.1-278.9</reference><reference>16.1-69.48:1</reference><reference>17.1-275</reference><reference>17.1-275.1</reference><reference>17.1-275.8</reference><reference>18.2-254</reference><reference>18.2-271.1</reference><reference>18.2-308.09</reference><reference>19.2-298.01</reference><reference>19.2-303.4</reference><reference>19.2-335</reference><reference>19.2-336</reference><reference>19.2-389</reference><reference>19.2-389.3</reference><reference>19.2-390</reference><reference>19.2-392</reference><reference>2.2-3007</reference><reference>22.1-315</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Crimes Involving Health and Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Drugs</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Whenever any person who has not previously been convicted of any criminal <span class="dictionary">offense</span> under this article or under any <span class="dictionary">statute</span> of the United States or of any state relating to narcotic drugs, marijuana, or stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic drugs, with the exception of any <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> for <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of marijuana, or has not previously had a proceeding against him for violation of such an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> dismissed as provided in this section, except a <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span> of a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> for <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of marijuana, pleads guilty to or enters a <span class="dictionary">plea</span> of not guilty to <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of a controlled substance under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Possession of controlled substances unlawful" href="/18.2-250/">18.2-250</a>, the court, upon such <span class="dictionary">plea</span> if the <span class="dictionary">facts</span> found by the court would justify a <span class="dictionary">finding</span> of guilt, without entering a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of guilt and with the consent of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>, may defer further proceedings and place him on <span class="dictionary">probation</span> upon terms and conditions. If the court defers further proceedings, at that time the court shall determine whether the <span class="dictionary">clerk of court</span> has been provided with the fingerprint identification information or fingerprints of the person, taken by a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Reports to be made by local law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, clerks of court, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Corrections officials to State Police; material submitted by other agencies" href="/19.2-390/">19.2-390</a>, and, if not, shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> that the fingerprints and photograph of the person be taken by a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer.
		As a term or condition, the court shall require the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> to undergo a substance abuse assessment pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Substance abuse screening and assessment for felony convictions" href="/18.2-251.01/">18.2-251.01</a> or <a class="law" title="Alcohol and substance abuse screening and assessment for designated Class 1 misdemeanor convictions" href="/19.2-299.2/">19.2-299.2</a>, as appropriate, and enter treatment and/or education program or services, if available, such as, in the <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> of the court, may be best suited to the needs of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> based upon consideration of the substance abuse assessment. The program or services may be located in the judicial district in which the charge is brought or in any other judicial district as the court may provide. The services shall be provided by (i) a program licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, by a similar program which is made available through the Department of Corrections, (ii) a local community-based <span class="dictionary">probation</span> services agency established pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Establishment of a community-based probation services agency" href="/9.1-174/">9.1-174</a>, or (iii) an ASAP program certified by the Commission on VASAP.
		The court shall require the person entering such program under the provisions of this section to pay all or part of the costs of the program, including the costs of the screening, assessment, testing, and treatment, based upon the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>&#x2019;s ability to pay unless the person is determined by the court to be <span class="dictionary">indigent</span>.
		As a condition of <span class="dictionary">probation</span>, the court shall require the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> (a) to successfully complete treatment or education program or services, (b) to remain drug and alcohol free during the period of <span class="dictionary">probation</span> and submit to such tests during that period as may be necessary and appropriate to determine if the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> is drug and alcohol free, (c) to make reasonable efforts to secure and maintain employment, and (d) to comply with a plan of at least 100 hours of <span class="dictionary">community service</span> for a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> and up to 24 hours of <span class="dictionary">community service</span> for a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. Such testing shall be conducted by personnel of the supervising <span class="dictionary">probation</span> agency or personnel of any program or agency approved by the supervising <span class="dictionary">probation</span> agency.
		Upon violation of a term or condition, the court may enter an adjudication of guilt and proceed as otherwise provided. Upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions, and upon determining that the <span class="dictionary">clerk of court</span> has been provided with the fingerprint identification information or fingerprints of such person, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the proceedings against him. Discharge and <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span> under this section shall be without adjudication of guilt and is a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> only for the purposes of applying this section in subsequent proceedings.
		Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, whenever a court places an individual on <span class="dictionary">probation</span> upon terms and conditions pursuant to this section, such action shall be treated as a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> for purposes of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Grounds and procedure for suspension" href="/22.1-315/">22.1-315</a>. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be applicable to any <span class="dictionary">offense</span> for which a juvenile has had his license suspended or denied pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Delinquent children; loss of driving privileges for alcohol, firearm, and drug offenses; truancy" href="/16.1-278.9/">16.1-278.9</a> for the same <span class="dictionary">offense</span>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 54-524.101:3; 1972, c. 798; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1976, c. 181; 1979, c. 435; 1983, c. 513; 1991, c. 482; 1992, cc. 58, 833; 1993, c. 410; 1997, c. 380; 1998, cc. 688, 783, 840; 2000, cc. 1020, 1041; 2001, cc. 430, 450, 827; 2007, c. 133; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2011, cc. 384, 410; 2014, cc. 674, 719; 2017, cc. 695, 703; 2019, cc. 782, 783; 2020, cc. 740, 741, 1285, 1286; 2024, cc. 785, 811.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
