§ 16.1-280. Commitment of mentally ill or mentally retarded juveniles
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 is mentally ill or mentally retarded, the court may commit him to an appropriate hospital in accordance with the provisions of §§ 16.1-338 through 16.1-345 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 §§ 16.1-338 through 16.1-345 to a maximum security unit within any state hospital where adults determined to be criminally insane reside. However, the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse 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 public. The Commissioner shall notify the committing court of any placement in such unit. The committing court shall review the placement at thirty-day intervals.
(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.)
Sections: Previous 16.1-278.16 16.1-278.17 16.1-278.17:1 16.1-278.18 16.1-278.19 16.1-279 16.1-279.1 16.1-280 16.1-281 16.1-282 16.1-282.1 16.1-282.2 16.1-283 16.1-284 16.1-284.1 NextLast modified: April 16, 2009