Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-247 (2026)

Duties of person taking child into custody

✓ current as of May 2026

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A. A person taking a child into custody pursuant to the provisions of subsection A of § 16.1-246, during such hours as the court is open, shall, with all practicable speed, and in accordance with the provisions of this law and the orders of court pursuant thereto, bring the child to the judge or intake officer of the court and the judge, intake officer or arresting officer shall, in the most expeditious manner practicable, give notice of the action taken, together with a statement of the reasons for taking the child into custody, orally or in writing to the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person standing in loco parentis.

B. A person taking a child into custody pursuant to the provisions of subsection B, C, or D of § 16.1-246, during such hours as the court is open, shall, with all practicable speed, and in accordance with the provisions of this law and the orders of court pursuant thereto:

1. Release the child to such child's parents, guardian, custodian or other suitable person able and willing to provide supervision and care for such child and issue oral counsel and warning as may be appropriate; or

2. Release the child to such child's parents, guardian, legal custodian or other person standing in loco parentis upon their promise to bring the child before the court when requested; or

3. If not released, bring the child to the judge or intake officer of the court and, in the most expeditious manner practicable, give notice of the action taken, together with a statement of the reasons for taking the child into custody, in writing to the judge or intake officer, and the judge, intake officer or arresting officer shall give notice of the action taken orally or in writing to the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person standing in loco parentis. Nothing herein shall prevent the child from being held for the purpose of administering a blood or breath test to determine the alcoholic content of his blood where the child has been taken into custody pursuant to § 18.2-266.

C. A person taking a child into custody pursuant to the provisions of subsections E and F of § 16.1-246, during such hours as the court is open, shall, with all practicable speed and in accordance with the provisions of this law and the orders of court pursuant thereto:

1. Release the child to the institution, facility or home from which he ran away or escaped; or

2. If not released, bring the child to the judge or intake officer of the court and, in the most expeditious manner practicable, give notice of the action taken, together with a statement of the reasons for taking the child into custody, in writing to the judge or intake officer, and the judge, intake officer or arresting officer shall give notice of the action taken orally or in writing to the institution, facility or home in which the child had been placed and orally or in writing to the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person standing in loco parentis.

D. A person taking a child into custody pursuant to the provisions of subsection A of § 16.1-246, during such hours as the court is not open, shall with all practicable speed and in accordance with the provisions of this law and the orders of court pursuant thereto:

1. Release the child taken into custody pursuant to a warrant on bail or recognizance pursuant to Chapter 9 (§ 19.2-119 et seq.) of Title 19.2; or

2. Place the child in a detention home or in shelter care; or

3. Place the child in a jail subject to the provisions of § 16.1-249.

E. A person taking a child into custody pursuant to the provisions of subsection B, C, or D of § 16.1-246 during such hours as the court is not open, shall:

1. Release the child pursuant to the provisions of subdivision B 1 or B 2 of this section; or

2. Release the child on bail or recognizance pursuant to Chapter 9 (§ 19.2-119 et seq.) of Title 19.2; or

3. Place the child taken into custody pursuant to subsection B of § 16.1-246 in shelter care after the issuance of a detention order pursuant to § 16.1-255; or

4. Place the child taken into custody pursuant to subsection C or D of § 16.1-246 in shelter care or in a detention home after the issuance of a warrant by a magistrate; or

5. Place the child in a jail subject to the provisions of § 16.1-249 after the issuance of a warrant by a magistrate or after the issuance of a detention order pursuant to § 16.1-255; or

6. In addition to any other provisions of this subsection, detain the child for a reasonably necessary period of time in order to administer a breath or blood test to determine the alcohol content of his blood, if such child was taken into custody pursuant to § 18.2-266.

F. A person taking a child into custody pursuant to the provisions of subsection E of § 16.1-246, during such hours as the court is not open, shall:

1. Release the child to the institution or facility from which he ran away or escaped; or

2. Detain the child in a detention home or in a jail subject to the provisions of § 16.1-249 after the issuance of a warrant by a magistrate or after the issuance of a detention order pursuant to § 16.1-255.

G. A person taking a child into custody pursuant to the provisions of subsection F of § 16.1-246, during such hours as the court is not open, shall:

1. Release the child to the facility or home from which he ran away; or

2. Detain the child in shelter care after the issuance of a detention order pursuant to § 16.1-255 or after the issuance of a warrant by a magistrate.

H. If a parent, guardian or other custodian fails, when requested, to bring the child before the court as provided in subdivisions B 2 and E 1, the court may issue a detention order directing that the child be taken into custody and be brought before the court.

I. A law-enforcement officer taking a child into custody pursuant to the provisions of subsection G of § 16.1-246 shall notify the intake officer of the juvenile court of the action taken. The intake officer shall determine if the child's conduct or situation is within the jurisdiction of the court and if a petition should be filed on behalf of the child. If the intake officer determines that a petition should not be filed, the law-enforcement officer shall as soon as practicable:

1. Return the child to his home;

2. Release the child to such child's parents, guardian, legal custodian or other person standing in loco parentis;

3. Place the child in shelter care for a period not longer than 24 hours after the issuance of a detention order pursuant to § 16.1-255; or

4. Release the child.

During the period of detention authorized by this subsection no child shall be confined in any detention home, jail or other facility for the detention of adults.

J. If a child is taken into custody pursuant to the provisions of subsection B, F, or G of § 16.1-246 by a law-enforcement officer during such hours as the court is not in session and the child is not released or transferred to a facility or institution in accordance with subsection E, G, or I of this section, the child shall be held in custody only so long as is reasonably necessary to complete identification, investigation and processing. The child shall be held under visual supervision in a nonlocked, multipurpose area which is not designated for residential use. The child shall not be handcuffed or otherwise secured to a stationary object.

K. When an adult is taken into custody pursuant to a warrant, detention order, or capias alleging a delinquent act committed when he was a juvenile, he may be released on bail or recognizance pursuant to Chapter 9 (§ 19.2-119 et seq.) of Title 19.2. An intake officer shall have the authority to issue a capias for an adult under the age of 21 who is alleged to have committed, before attaining the age of 18, an offense that would be a crime if committed by an adult.

Code 1950, § 16.1-197; 1956, c. 550; 1958, c. 344; 1973, c. 440; 1974, c. 584; 1975, c. 248; 1977, c. 559; 1978, c. 643; 1979, c. 701; 1984, c. 567; 1992, cc. 728, 830; 2004, cc. 415, 439; 2012, c. 253; 2016, c. 626.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 9 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1994–2024 · leading case: Roberts v. Commonwealth, 445 S.E.2d 709 (Va. Ct. App. 1994).

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Roberts v. Commonwealth, 445 S.E.2d 709 (Va. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 14× “He contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his confession to police in violation of (1) his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination; (2) his Sixth Amendment right to counsel; and (3) Code § 16.1-247, which relates to detention of juveniles.”

Cary v. Commonwealth, 579 S.E.2d 691 (Va. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “Appellant maintains, as a juvenile, he should have been brought before a judge or intake officer, “in the most expedient manner practicable,” pursuant to Code § 16.1-247. 3 If the police had followed the procedure in the Code, appellant argues, then his parents would have…”

Fredericksburg Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Brown, 533 S.E.2d 12 (Va. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “2(C); Code § 16.1-247(A); Code § 16.1-250(C); Code § 16.”

Commonwealth v. Malvo, 63 Va. Cir. 22 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2003). · cites it 14× “*36 Va. Code § 16.1-247. Malvo presented evidence at the suppression hearing that the juvenile intake office in Fairfax is open until midnight.”

Commonwealth of Virginia v. Christian Jason Rowe (Va. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 8× “” Code § 16.1-247(K) (noting that an adult may also be “taken into custody pursuant to a warrant, detention order, or capias alleging a delinquent act committed when he was a juvenile”).”

Commonwealth of Virginia v. Melvin Maurice Johnson (Va. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 6× “Johnson moved to suppress his confession on the ground that it was obtained in violation of the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States and Code § 16.1-247. The trial court found that Johnson was not deprived of any physical comforts; that he was…”

Fredericksburg DSS v. Clyde Brown & Joyce Williams (Va. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “1-228 (defining an abused or - 13 - neglected child, in part, as one who is without care due to the unreasonable absence of a "parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person").”

Clyde Brown v. Fredericksburg DSS (Va. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “1-228 (defining an abused or - 13 - neglected child, in part, as one who is without care due to the unreasonable absence of a "parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person").”

Brandon Lee King v. Commenwealth (Va. Ct. App. 1996). “Although the presence of defendant's grandmother was not a prerequisite to a valid waiver of his Miranda rights, police, nevertheless, pursued reasonable efforts to contact her following defendant's arrest. We, therefore, find that defendant's statement was properly admitted…”

— Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-247(A) — 4 cases

Roberts v. Commonwealth, 445 S.E.2d 709 (Va. Ct. App. 1994). “He contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his confession to police in violation of (1) his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination; (2) his Sixth Amendment right to counsel; and (3) Code § 16.1-247, which relates to detention of juveniles.”

Fredericksburg Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Brown, 533 S.E.2d 12 (Va. Ct. App. 2000). “2(C); Code § 16.1-247(A); Code § 16.1-250(C); Code § 16.”

Fredericksburg DSS v. Clyde Brown & Joyce Williams (Va. Ct. App. 2000). “1-228 (defining an abused or - 13 - neglected child, in part, as one who is without care due to the unreasonable absence of a "parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person").”

Clyde Brown v. Fredericksburg DSS (Va. Ct. App. 2000). “1-228 (defining an abused or - 13 - neglected child, in part, as one who is without care due to the unreasonable absence of a "parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person").”

— Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-247(K) — 1 case

Commonwealth of Virginia v. Christian Jason Rowe (Va. Ct. App. 2024). “” Code § 16.1-247(K) (noting that an adult may also be “taken into custody pursuant to a warrant, detention order, or capias alleging a delinquent act committed when he was a juvenile”).”

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