Any person who suspects that a child is an abused or neglected child may make a complaint concerning such child, except as hereinafter provided, to the local department of the county or city wherein the child resides or wherein the abuse or neglect is believed to have occurred or to the Department's toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline. If an employee of the local department is suspected of abusing or neglecting a child, the complaint shall be made to the court of the county or city where the abuse or neglect was discovered. Upon receipt of such a report by the court, the judge shall assign the report to a local department that is not the employer of the suspected employee for investigation or family assessment; or, if the judge believes that no local department in a reasonable geographic distance can be impartial in responding to the reported case, the judge shall assign the report to the court service unit of his court for evaluation. The judge may consult with the Department in selecting a local department to respond to the report or complaint. Such a complaint may be oral or in writing and shall disclose all information which is the basis for the suspicion of abuse or neglect of the child.
1975, c. 341, § 63.1-248.4; 1976, c. 348; 1994, c. 840; 2000, c. 500; 2002, c. 747.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 63.2 - Welfare (Social Services)
Chapter 15 - Child Abuse and Neglect
§ 63.2-1502. Establishment of Child-Protective Services Unit; duties
§ 63.2-1503. Local departments to establish child-protective services; duties
§ 63.2-1504. Child-protective services differential response system
§ 63.2-1505. Investigations by local departments
§ 63.2-1506. Family assessments by local departments
§ 63.2-1506.1. Human trafficking assessments by local departments
§ 63.2-1507. Cooperation by state entities
§ 63.2-1508. Valid report or complaint
§ 63.2-1510. Complaints by others of certain injuries to children
§ 63.2-1511. Complaints of abuse and neglect against school personnel; interagency agreement
§ 63.2-1512. Immunity of person making report, etc., from liability
§ 63.2-1513. Knowingly making false reports; penalties
§ 63.2-1515. Central registry; disclosure of information
§ 63.2-1516. Tape recording child abuse investigations
§ 63.2-1516.01. Investigation procedures involving person who is the subject of complaint
§ 63.2-1517. Authority to take child into custody
§ 63.2-1518. Authority to talk to child or sibling
§ 63.2-1519. Physician-patient and spousal privileges inapplicable
§ 63.2-1520. Photographs and X-rays of child; use as evidence
§ 63.2-1521. Testimony by child using two-way closed-circuit television
§ 63.2-1522. Admission of evidence of sexual acts with children
§ 63.2-1523. Use of videotaped statements of complaining witnesses as evidence
§ 63.2-1524. Court may order certain examinations
§ 63.2-1525. Prima facie evidence for removal of child custody
§ 63.2-1526. Appeals of certain actions of local departments
§ 63.2-1527. Board oversight duties; Out-of-Family Investigations Advisory Committee
§ 63.2-1530. Virginia Child Protection Accountability System