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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80703</law_id><section_number>19.2-169.3</section_number><catch_line>Disposition of the unrestorably incompetent defendant; aggravated murder charge; sexually violent offense charge</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-308.1:3</reference><reference>19.2-169.1</reference><reference>19.2-169.3:1</reference><reference>19.2-174.1</reference><reference>37.2-845</reference><reference>37.2-846</reference><reference>37.2-900</reference><reference>37.2-903</reference><reference>37.2-905</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="11">Proceedings on Question of Insanity</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If, at any time after the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is ordered to undergo treatment pursuant to subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disposition when defendant found incompetent" href="/19.2-169.2/">19.2-169.2</a>, the director of the <span class="dictionary">community services</span> board or behavioral health authority or his designee or the director of the treating inpatient facility or his designee concludes that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is likely to remain incompetent for the foreseeable future, or if the initial evaluator has found that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> has an ongoing and irreversible medical condition causing him to likely remain incompetent for the foreseeable future or that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> has been found to be unrestorably incompetent in the past two years, he shall send a report to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> so stating. The report shall also indicate whether, in the <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> of the director of the board, authority, or inpatient facility or his designee or the evaluator, the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> should be released, committed pursuant to Article 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Commitment hearing for involuntary admission; written explanation; right to counsel; rights of petitioner" href="/37.2-814/">37.2-814</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 37.2, committed pursuant to Chapter 9 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/37.2-900/">37.2-900</a> et seq.) of Title 37.2, or certified pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Judicial certification of eligibility for admission of persons with intellectual disability" href="/37.2-806/">37.2-806</a> in the event he is found to be unrestorably incompetent. Upon receipt of the report, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall make a competency determination according to the procedures specified in subsection D or E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Raising question of competency to stand trial or plead; evaluation and determination of competency" href="/19.2-169.1/">19.2-169.1</a>. If the <span class="dictionary">court</span> finds that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is incompetent and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future, it shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> that he be (i) released, (ii) committed pursuant to Article 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Commitment hearing for involuntary admission; written explanation; right to counsel; rights of petitioner" href="/37.2-814/">37.2-814</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 37.2, or (iii) certified pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Judicial certification of eligibility for admission of persons with intellectual disability" href="/37.2-806/">37.2-806</a>. However, if the <span class="dictionary">court</span> finds that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is incompetent and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future and the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> has been charged with a sexually violent <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/37.2-900/">37.2-900</a>, he shall be screened pursuant to the procedures set forth in &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Database of prisoners convicted of sexually violent offenses; maintained by Department of Corrections; notice of pending release to CRC" href="/37.2-903/">37.2-903</a> and <a class="law" title="CRC assessment of prisoners or defendants eligible for commitment as sexually violent predators; mental health examination; recommendation" href="/37.2-904/">37.2-904</a>. If the <span class="dictionary">court</span> finds the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> incompetent but restorable to competency in the foreseeable future, it may <span class="dictionary">order</span> treatment continued until six months have elapsed from the date of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s initial admission under subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disposition when defendant found incompetent" href="/19.2-169.2/">19.2-169.2</a>. <a id="paragraph-289293" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-169.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> At the end of six months from the date of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s initial admission under subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disposition when defendant found incompetent" href="/19.2-169.2/">19.2-169.2</a> if the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> remains incompetent in the <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> of the board, authority, or inpatient facility director or his designee, the director or his designee shall so notify the <span class="dictionary">court</span> and make recommendations concerning <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> as described in subsection A. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall hold a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> according to the procedures specified in subsection E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Raising question of competency to stand trial or plead; evaluation and determination of competency" href="/19.2-169.1/">19.2-169.1</a> and, if it finds the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> unrestorably incompetent, shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> one of the <span class="dictionary">dispositions</span> described in subsection A. If the <span class="dictionary">court</span> finds the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> incompetent but restorable to competency, it may <span class="dictionary">order</span> continued treatment under subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disposition when defendant found incompetent" href="/19.2-169.2/">19.2-169.2</a> for additional six-month periods, provided a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> pursuant to subsection E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Raising question of competency to stand trial or plead; evaluation and determination of competency" href="/19.2-169.1/">19.2-169.1</a> is held at the completion of each such period and the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> continues to be incompetent but restorable to competency in the foreseeable future. <a id="paragraph-289294" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-169.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If any <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> has been charged with a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> in violation of Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Grand larceny defined; how punished" href="/18.2-95/">18.2-95</a> et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2 or Article 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties" href="/18.2-119/">18.2-119</a> et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2, other than a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> charge pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Peeping or spying into dwelling or enclosure" href="/18.2-130/">18.2-130</a> or Article 2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disorderly conduct in public places" href="/18.2-415/">18.2-415</a> et seq.) of Chapter 9 of Title 18.2, and is being treated pursuant to subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disposition when defendant found incompetent" href="/19.2-169.2/">19.2-169.2</a>, and after 45 days has not been restored to competency, the director of the <span class="dictionary">community service</span> board, behavioral health authority, or the director of the treating inpatient facility, or any of their designees, shall send a report indicating the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s status to the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. The report shall also indicate whether the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> should be released or committed pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Involuntary admission" href="/37.2-817/">37.2-817</a> or <a class="law" title="Mandatory outpatient treatment" href="/37.2-817.01/">37.2-817.01</a> or certified pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Judicial certification of eligibility for admission of persons with intellectual disability" href="/37.2-806/">37.2-806</a>. Upon receipt of the report, if the <span class="dictionary">court</span> determines that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is still incompetent, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> be released, committed, or certified, and may dismiss the charges against the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>. <a id="paragraph-289295" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-169.3/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Unless an incompetent <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is charged with aggravated <span class="dictionary">murder</span> or the charges against an incompetent criminal <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> have been previously dismissed, charges against an unrestorably incompetent <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> shall be dismissed on the date upon which his sentence would have expired had he been convicted and received the maximum sentence for the <span class="dictionary">crime</span> charged, or on the date five years from the date of his <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> for such charges, whichever is sooner. <a id="paragraph-289296" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-169.3/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">court orders</span> an unrestorably incompetent <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> to be screened pursuant to the procedures set forth in &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Database of prisoners convicted of sexually violent offenses; maintained by Department of Corrections; notice of pending release to CRC" href="/37.2-903/">37.2-903</a> and <a class="law" title="CRC assessment of prisoners or defendants eligible for commitment as sexually violent predators; mental health examination; recommendation" href="/37.2-904/">37.2-904</a>, it shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> the attorney for the Commonwealth in the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> wherein the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> was charged and the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to provide the Director of the Department of Corrections with any information relevant to the review, including, but not limited to: (i) a copy of the warrant or <span class="dictionary">indictment</span>, (ii) a copy of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s criminal record, (iii) information about the alleged <span class="dictionary">crime</span>, (iv) a copy of the competency report completed pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Raising question of competency to stand trial or plead; evaluation and determination of competency" href="/19.2-169.1/">19.2-169.1</a>, and (v) a copy of the report prepared by the director of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">community services</span> board, behavioral health authority, or treating inpatient facility or his designee pursuant to this section. The court shall further <span class="dictionary">order</span> that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> be held in the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for secure confinement and treatment until the Commitment Review Committee&#x2019;s and <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>&#x2019;s review and any subsequent <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> or <span class="dictionary">trial</span> are completed. If the court receives notice that the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> has declined to file a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for the commitment of an unrestorably incompetent <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> as a sexually violent predator after conducting a review pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Review of prisoners convicted of a sexually violent offense; review of unrestorably incompetent defendants charged with sexually violent offenses; petition for commitment; notice to Department of Corrections or referring court regarding disposition of review" href="/37.2-905/">37.2-905</a>, the court shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> be released, committed pursuant to Article 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Commitment hearing for involuntary admission; written explanation; right to counsel; rights of petitioner" href="/37.2-814/">37.2-814</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 37.2, or certified pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Judicial certification of eligibility for admission of persons with intellectual disability" href="/37.2-806/">37.2-806</a>. <a id="paragraph-289297" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-169.3/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> In any case when an incompetent <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is charged with aggravated <span class="dictionary">murder</span> and has been determined to be unrestorably incompetent, notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the charge shall not be dismissed and the court having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over the aggravated <span class="dictionary">murder</span> case may order that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> receive continued treatment under subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disposition when defendant found incompetent" href="/19.2-169.2/">19.2-169.2</a> in a secure facility determined by the Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services where the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> shall remain until further order of the court, provided that (i) a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> pursuant to subsection E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Raising question of competency to stand trial or plead; evaluation and determination of competency" href="/19.2-169.1/">19.2-169.1</a> is held at yearly intervals for five years and at biennial intervals thereafter, or at any time that the director of the treating facility or his designee submits a competency report to the court in accordance with subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Raising question of competency to stand trial or plead; evaluation and determination of competency" href="/19.2-169.1/">19.2-169.1</a> that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s competency has been restored, (ii) the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> remains incompetent, (iii) the court finds continued treatment to be medically appropriate, and (iv) the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> presents a danger to himself or others. No unrestorably incompetent <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> charged with aggravated <span class="dictionary">murder</span> shall be released except pursuant to a <span class="dictionary">court order</span>. <a id="paragraph-289298" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-169.3/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> The attorney for the Commonwealth may bring charges that have been dismissed against the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> when he is restored to competency. <a id="paragraph-289299" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-169.3/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1982, c. 653; 1999, cc. 946, 985; 2003, cc. 915, 919, 989, cls. 4, 5, 1018, cls. 4, 5, 1042, cls. 10, 11; 2006, cc. 863, 914; 2007, cc. 781, 876; 2008, cc. 406, 796; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2012, cc. 668, 800; 2019, c. 797; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 344, 345; 2022, c. 763; 2023, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
