                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

COMMITMENT OF JUVENILES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY (§
16.1-280)

When any juvenile court has found a juvenile to be in need of services or
delinquent pursuant to the provisions of this law and reasonably believes such
juvenile has mental illness or intellectual disability, the court may commit him
to an appropriate hospital or order mandatory outpatient treatment in accordance
with the provisions of Article 16 (§ 16.1-335 et seq.) or admit him to a
training center in accordance with the provisions of § 37.2-806 for observation
as to his mental condition. No juvenile shall be committed pursuant to this
section or Article 16 (§ 16.1-335 et seq.) to a maximum security unit within
any state hospital where adults determined to be criminally insane reside.
However, the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services may
place a juvenile who has been certified to the circuit court for trial as an
adult pursuant to § 16.1-269.6 or 16.1-270 or who has been convicted as an
adult of a felony in the circuit court in a unit appropriate for the care and
treatment of persons under a criminal charge when, in his discretion, such
placement is necessary to protect the security or safety of other patients,
staff, or the public. The Commissioner shall notify the committing court of any
placement in such unit. The committing court shall review the placement at
30-day intervals.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 16.1-178.2; 1960, c. 103; 1974, cc. 44, 45; 1977, c. 559;
1978, c. 739; 1981, c. 487; 1988, c. 826; 1990, c. 975; 1994, cc. 859, 949;
2009, cc. 813, 840; 2010, cc. 778, 825; 2012, cc. 476, 507.