                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP COURT SERVICES; COURT SERVICES UNITS; APPOINTMENT AND
REMOVAL OF EMPLOYEES; SALARIES (§ 16.1-233)

A. Within funds appropriated for the purpose, it shall be a function of the
Department to develop and operate, except as hereinafter provided, probation,
parole and other court services for juvenile and domestic relations district
courts in order that all children coming within the jurisdiction of such courts
throughout the Commonwealth shall receive the fullest protection of the court.
To this end the Director may establish court services units in the Department.
The Director shall appoint such employees as he may find to be necessary to
carry out properly the responsibilities of the Department relative to the
development, supervision and operation of probation, parole and other court
services throughout the Commonwealth as set forth in this chapter.

B. The salaries of the persons employed pursuant to this section shall be paid
out of funds appropriated for such purpose to the Department of Juvenile
Justice. The Director and such employees as he may find necessary to carry out
properly the responsibilities of the Department pursuant to subsection A of this
section shall have access to all probation offices, other social services and to
their records.

C. The State Board shall establish minimum standards for court service staffs
and related supportive personnel and promulgate regulations pertaining to their
appointment and function to the end that uniform services, insofar as is
practical, will be available to juvenile and domestic relations district courts
throughout the Commonwealth. In counties or cities now served by regional
juvenile and domestic relations courts or where specialized court service units
are not provided, and in any county or city which provided specialized services
on June 30, 1973, that requests the development of a court service unit,
appointment to positions in such units shall be based on merit as provided in
the Virginia Personnel Act (&#xA7; 2.2-2900 et seq.).

D. No person shall be assigned to or discharged from the state-operated court
service staff of a juvenile and domestic relations district court except as
provided in the Virginia Personnel Act (&#xA7; 2.2-2900 et seq.). The Director
shall have the authority, for good cause, after consulting with the judge or
judges of that juvenile and domestic relations district court and after due
notice and opportunity to be heard, to order the transfer, demotion or
separation of any person from the court service staff subject only to the
limitations of the Virginia Personnel Act.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 16.1-203; 1956, c. 555; 1972, c. 708; 1973, c. 546; 1974,
cc. 44, 45; 1977, c. 559; 1979, c. 700; 1989, c. 733; 1995, cc. 696, 699; 2001,
c. 853; 2003, c. 648.