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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59659</law_id><section_number>63.2-1530</section_number><catch_line>Virginia Child Protection Accountability System</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>17.1-275.12</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="6">Virginia Child Protection Accountability System</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The Virginia <span class="dictionary">Child</span> Protection Accountability System (the System) is created to collect and make available to the public information on the response to reported cases of <span class="dictionary">child</span> abuse and neglect in the Commonwealth. The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall establish and maintain the System. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section. <a id="paragraph-218486" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1530/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The following information shall, notwithstanding any state <span class="dictionary">law</span> regarding privacy or confidentiality of records, be included in the System and made available to the public via a website maintained by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> and in print format: <a id="paragraph-218487" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1530/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> From the Department: (i) the total number of complaints alleging <span class="dictionary">child</span> abuse, neglect, or a combination thereof received; (ii) the total number of complaints deemed valid pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Valid report or complaint" href="/63.2-1508/">63.2-1508</a>; (iii) the total number of complaints investigated by the Department pursuant to subsection I of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Local departments to establish child-protective services; duties" href="/63.2-1503/">63.2-1503</a> and <a class="law" title="Investigations by local departments" href="/63.2-1505/">63.2-1505</a>; (iv) the total number of cases determined to be founded cases of abuse or neglect; and (v) the total number of cases resulting in a <span class="dictionary">finding</span> that the complaint was founded resulting in administrative <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>. Information reported pursuant to clause (v) shall be reported by total number of <span class="dictionary">appeals</span> to the <span class="dictionary">local department</span>, total number of <span class="dictionary">appeals</span> to the Department, and total number of <span class="dictionary">appeals</span> by outcome of the <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>. For each category of information required by this subdivision, the Department shall also report the total number of cases by type of abuse; by gender, age, and race of the alleged victim; and by the nature of the relationship between the alleged victim and alleged abuser. <a id="paragraph-218488" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1530/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> From the Department of State Police, annually, in a format approved by the Department of <span class="dictionary">Social Services</span>, <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> and <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> statistics for violations of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Abduction with intent to extort money or for immoral purpose" href="/18.2-48/">18.2-48</a>, <a class="law" title="Rape" href="/18.2-61/">18.2-61</a>, <a class="law" title="Carnal knowledge of child between thirteen and fifteen years of age" href="/18.2-63/">18.2-63</a>, <a class="law" title="Carnal knowledge of certain minors" href="/18.2-64.1/">18.2-64.1</a>, <a class="law" title="Forcible sodomy" href="/18.2-67.1/">18.2-67.1</a>, <a class="law" title="Object sexual penetration; penalty" href="/18.2-67.2/">18.2-67.2</a>, <a class="law" title="Aggravated sexual battery; penalty" href="/18.2-67.3/">18.2-67.3</a>, <a class="law" title="Sexual battery" href="/18.2-67.4/">18.2-67.4</a>, <a class="law" title="Taking, detaining, etc., person for prostitution, etc., or consenting thereto; human trafficking" href="/18.2-355/">18.2-355</a>, <a class="law" title="Crimes against nature; penalty" href="/18.2-361/">18.2-361</a>, <a class="law" title="Sexual intercourse by persons forbidden to marry; incest; penalties" href="/18.2-366/">18.2-366</a>, <a class="law" title="Taking indecent liberties with children; penalties" href="/18.2-370/">18.2-370</a> through <a class="law" title="Sex offenses prohibiting proximity to children; penalty" href="/18.2-370.2/">18.2-370.2</a>, <a class="law" title="Causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc.; penalty; abandoned infant" href="/18.2-371/">18.2-371</a>, <a class="law" title="Abuse and neglect of children; penalties; abandoned infant" href="/18.2-371.1/">18.2-371.1</a>, <a class="law" title="Production, publication, sale, financing, etc., of child pornography; presumption as to age" href="/18.2-374.1/">18.2-374.1</a>, <a class="law" title="Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography; penalty" href="/18.2-374.1_1/">18.2-374.1:1</a>, <a class="law" title="Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children; penalties" href="/18.2-374.3/">18.2-374.3</a>, <a class="law" title="Indecent exposure" href="/18.2-387/">18.2-387</a>, and <a class="law" title="Cruelty and injuries to children; penalty; abandoned infant" href="/40.1-103/">40.1-103</a> for inclusion in the <span class="dictionary">Child</span> Protection Accountability System. <a id="paragraph-218489" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1530/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> From every <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> in the Commonwealth for which data is available through the statewide Case Management System: (i) the total number of (a) <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> appealed from the district <span class="dictionary">court</span> to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>, (b) <span class="dictionary">felony</span> charges certified from the district <span class="dictionary">court</span> to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>, and (c) charges brought by direct <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> that involve a violation of any Code section set forth in subdivision 2; (ii) the total number of cases appealed, certified, or transferred to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or brought by direct <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> involving a violation of any Code section set forth in subdivision 2 that result in a <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, including the number of <span class="dictionary">bench trials</span> and the number of <span class="dictionary">jury trials</span>; and (iii) the total number of trials involving a violation of any Code section set forth in subdivision 2 resulting in (a) a <span class="dictionary">plea</span> agreement, (b) transfer to another <span class="dictionary">court</span>, (c) a <span class="dictionary">finding</span> of not guilty, (d) <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> on a <span class="dictionary">lesser included offense</span>, or (e) <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> on all charges, by type of <span class="dictionary">trial</span>. <a id="paragraph-218490" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1530/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> From the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, information on sentences imposed for <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> listed in subdivision 2, including (i) the name of the sentencing <span class="dictionary">judge</span>, (ii) the offense or <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> for which a sentence was imposed, (iii) the age of the victim and offender, (iv) the relationship between the victim and the offender, (v) the locality in which the offense occurred, (vi) the sentence imposed and the actual time served, (vii) whether the sentence was an upward or downward departure from the <span class="dictionary">sentencing guidelines</span> or within the <span class="dictionary">sentencing guidelines</span>, and (viii) the reasons given for the departure, if any, from the <span class="dictionary">sentencing guidelines</span>. <a id="paragraph-218491" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1530/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> From the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of Virginia, information by locality on cases from the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District <span class="dictionary">Courts</span>&#x2019; Case Management System involving (i) children alleged to be abused or neglected, including (a) the number of <span class="dictionary">petitions</span> filed, (b) the number of cases in which an emergency removal <span class="dictionary">order</span> was issued, (c) the number of cases in which a preliminary removal <span class="dictionary">order</span> was issued prior to an adjudicatory hearing, (d) the number of cases in which a preliminary removal <span class="dictionary">order</span> or a preliminary <span class="dictionary">child</span> protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> or both were issued at a <span class="dictionary">preliminary hearing</span>, and (e) the number of cases in which a preliminary <span class="dictionary">child</span> protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> or a <span class="dictionary">child</span> protective <span class="dictionary">order</span> was issued other than at a <span class="dictionary">preliminary hearing</span>; and (ii) family abuse cases, including (a) the number of family abuse emergency protective <span class="dictionary">orders</span> issued by <span class="dictionary">magistrates</span> and juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">courts</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Emergency protective orders authorized in certain cases; penalty" href="/16.1-253.4/">16.1-253.4</a>, (b) the number of family abuse protective <span class="dictionary">petitions</span> filed, and (c) the number of family abuse protective <span class="dictionary">orders</span> issued pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Protective order in cases of family abuse" href="/16.1-279.1/">16.1-279.1</a>.
				Information required to be reported pursuant to subdivisions 1 through 5 shall be reported annually in a format approved by the Department of <span class="dictionary">Social Services</span> and aggregated by locality. <a id="paragraph-218492" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1530/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Data collected pursuant to subsection B shall be made available to the public on a website established and maintained by the Department and shall also be made readily available to the public in print format. Information included in the System shall be presented in such a manner that no individual identifying information shall be included. <a id="paragraph-218493" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1530/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2009, c. 445; 2010, cc. 664, 726; 2012, cc. 113, 661.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
