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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66188</law_id><section_number>63.2-1510</section_number><catch_line>Complaints by others of certain injuries to children</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-1512</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="63.2">Welfare (Social Services)</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Social Services Programs</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="15">Child Abuse and Neglect</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Complaints</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any person who suspects that a child is an <span class="dictionary">abused or neglected child</span> may make a complaint concerning such child, except as hereinafter provided, to the <span class="dictionary">local department</span> of the county or city wherein the child resides or wherein the abuse or neglect is believed to have occurred or to the Department&#x2019;s toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline. If an employee of the <span class="dictionary">local department</span> is suspected of abusing or neglecting a child, the complaint shall be made to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the county or city where the abuse or neglect was discovered. Upon receipt of such a report by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> shall assign the report to a <span class="dictionary">local department</span> that is not the employer of the suspected employee for investigation or family assessment; or, if the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> believes that no <span class="dictionary">local department</span> in a reasonable geographic distance can be impartial in responding to the reported case, the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> shall assign the report to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> service unit of his <span class="dictionary">court</span> for evaluation. The <span class="dictionary">judge</span> may consult with the Department in selecting a <span class="dictionary">local department</span> to respond to the report or complaint. Such a complaint may be oral or in writing and shall disclose all information which is the basis for the suspicion of abuse or neglect of the child.</p></section></text><history>1975, c. 341, &#xA7; 63.1-248.4; 1976, c. 348; 1994, c. 840; 2000, c. 500; 2002, c. 747.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
