The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles cases involving both juveniles and adults. These cases include juvenile delinquency; abuse or neglect of a child or family member; visitation, support or custody of a child; a child in need of services or supervision; and preliminary hearings for adults charged with crimes against juveniles or family members.
In Virginia, a juvenile is any person under age 18. A delinquent is a juvenile who has committed an act which would be a crime if the same act were committed by an adult.
If the case involves a juvenile 14 years or older who has been charged with a felony, the case may be certified or transferred to Circuit Court where the juvenile may be tried as an adult.
There is no jury trial in this court. All cases are heard by the judge. A defendant may appeal the decision of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court to the Circuit Court.
The proceedings in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court are generally confidential because the court has a duty to protect the confidentiality of the child and the family and to protect the victims' rights.
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