                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

COURT MAY REQUIRE INVESTIGATION OF SOCIAL HISTORY AND PREPARATION OF VICTIM
IMPACT STATEMENT (§ 16.1-273)

A. When a juvenile and domestic relations district court or circuit court has
adjudicated any case involving a child subject to the jurisdiction of the court
hereunder, except for a traffic violation, a violation of the game and fish law,
or a violation of any city ordinance regulating surfing or establishing curfew
violations, the court before final disposition thereof may require an
investigation, which (i) shall include a drug screening and (ii) may, and for
the purposes of subdivision A 14 or 17 of &#xA7; 16.1-278.8 shall, include a
social history of the physical, mental, and social conditions, including an
assessment of any affiliation with a criminal street gang as defined in &#xA7;
18.2-46.1, and personality of the child and the facts and circumstances
surrounding the violation of law. However, in the case of a juvenile adjudicated
delinquent on the basis of an act committed on or after January 1, 2000, which
would be (a) a felony if committed by an adult, or (b) a violation under Article
1 (&#xA7; 18.2-247 et seq.) or Article 1.1 (&#xA7; 18.2-265.1 et seq.) of
Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 and such offense would be punishable as a Class 1 or
Class 2 misdemeanor if committed by an adult, the court shall order the juvenile
to undergo a drug screening. If the drug screening indicates that the juvenile
has a substance abuse or dependence problem, an assessment shall be completed by
a certified substance abuse counselor as defined in &#xA7; 54.1-3500 employed by
the Department of Juvenile Justice or by a locally operated court services unit
or by an individual employed by or currently under contract to such agencies and
who is specifically trained to conduct such assessments under the supervision of
such counselor.

B. The court also shall, on motion of the attorney for the Commonwealth with the
consent of the victim, or may in its discretion, require the preparation of a
victim impact statement in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7; 19.2-299.1
if the court determines that the victim may have suffered significant physical,
psychological, or economic injury as a result of the violation of law.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 16.1-164; 1956, c. 555; 1972, cc. 672, 835; 1973, c. 440;
1977, cc. 559, 627; 1993, c. 603; 1998, cc. 783, 840; 1999, cc. 350, 891, 913;
2000, cc. 1020, 1041; 2005, c. 843; 2007, c. 510; 2014, cc. 20, 249; 2020, cc.
1285, 1286; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 550, 551.