                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

RELEASE AND REVIEW HEARING FOR SERIOUS OFFENDER (§ 16.1-285.2)

A. Upon receipt of a petition of the Department of Juvenile Justice for a
hearing concerning a juvenile committed under &#xA7; 16.1-285.1, the court shall
schedule a hearing within thirty days and shall appoint counsel for the juvenile
pursuant to &#xA7; 16.1-266. The court shall provide a copy of the petition, the
progress report required by this section, and notice of the time and place of
the hearing to (i) the juvenile, (ii) the juvenile&#8217;s parent, legal
guardian, or person standing in loco parentis, (iii) the juvenile&#8217;s
guardian ad litem, if any, (iv) the juvenile&#8217;s legal counsel, and (v) the
attorney for the Commonwealth who prosecuted the juvenile during the delinquency
proceeding. The attorney for the Commonwealth shall provide notice of the time
and place of the hearing by first-class mail to the last known address of any
victim of the offense for which the juvenile was committed if such victim has
submitted a written request for notification to the attorney for the
Commonwealth.

B. The petition shall be filed in the committing court and shall be accompanied
by a progress report from the Department. This report shall describe (i) the
facility and living arrangement provided for the juvenile by the Department,
(ii) the services and treatment programs afforded the juvenile, (iii) the
juvenile&#8217;s progress toward treatment goals and objectives, which shall
include a summary of his educational progress, (iv) the juvenile&#8217;s
potential for danger to either himself or the community, and (v) a comprehensive
aftercare plan for the juvenile.

B1. The appearance of the juvenile before the court may be by (i) personal
appearance before the judge, or (ii) use of two-way electronic video and audio
communication. If two-way electronic video and audio communication is used, a
judge may exercise all powers conferred by law and all communications and
proceedings shall be conducted in the same manner as if the appearance were in
person, and any documents filed may be transmitted by facsimile process. A
facsimile may be served or executed by the officer or person to whom sent, and
returned in the same manner, and with the same force, effect, authority, and
liability as an original document. All signatures thereon shall be treated as
original signatures. Any two-way electronic video and audio communication system
used for an appearance shall meet the standards as set forth in subsection B of
&#xA7; 19.2-3.1.

C. At the hearing the court shall consider the progress report. The court may
also consider additional evidence from (i) probation officers, the juvenile
correctional center, treatment professionals, and the court service unit; (ii)
the juvenile, his legal counsel, parent, guardian or family member; or (iii)
other sources the court deems relevant. The hearing and all records relating
thereto shall be governed by the confidentiality provisions of Article 12
(&#xA7; 16.1-299 et seq.) of this chapter.

D. At the conclusion of the hearing and notwithstanding the terms of any plea
agreement or commitment order, the court shall order (i) continued commitment of
the juvenile to the Department for completion of the original determinate period
of commitment or such lesser time as the court may order or (ii) release of the
juvenile under such terms and conditions as the court may prescribe. In making a
determination under this section, the court shall consider (i) the experiences
and character of the juvenile before and after commitment, (ii) the nature of
the offenses that the juvenile was found to have committed, (iii) the manner in
which the offenses were committed, (iv) the protection of the community, (v) the
recommendations of the Department, and (vi) any other factors the court deems
relevant. The order of the court shall be final and not subject to appeal.

E. In the case of a juvenile convicted as an adult and committed as a serious
offender under subdivision A 1 of &#xA7; 16.1-272, at the conclusion of the
review hearing and notwithstanding the terms of any plea agreement or commitment
order, the circuit court shall order (i) the juvenile to begin serving any adult
sentence in whole or in part that may include any remaining part of the original
determinate period of commitment, or (ii) the suspension of the unserved portion
of the adult sentence in whole or in part based upon the juvenile&#8217;s
successful completion of the commitment as a serious offender, or (iii) the
continued commitment of the juvenile to the Department for completion of the
original determinate period of commitment or such lesser time as the court may
order, or (iv) the release of the juvenile under such terms and conditions as
the court may prescribe.

HISTORY: 1994, cc. 859, 949; 1995, c. 536; 1996, cc. 755, 914; 2002, c. 511;
2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 284.