Chap. 390.—An ACT to provide for a study, by the Virginia Advisory Legisla-
tive Council, of a system of juvenile and domestic relations courts for
Virginia. {S 175]

Approved April 1, 1948

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. Section 1. The public policy of Virginia has been to provide
for the correction of youthful offenders rather than to rely upon punitive
methods. The General Assembly views with favor the general principle
of enlarging the jurisdiction of juvenile and domestic relations courts
in the Commonwealth of Virginia and improving the functions of such
courts in the several counties and cities,

Section 2. The Virginia Advisory Legislative Council accordingly
is hereby directed to make further study and report on the advisability of
establishing a state-wide system of juvenile and domestic relations courts.
The Council shall particularly consider the proposals contained in
Senate Bill one hundred seventy-five, session of nineteen hundred
forty-eight, as originally introduced. The Council shall also carefully
consider the jurisdiction to be given such courts, the question of whether
the right to trial by jury is involved in cases coming before such courts,
and all other matters which it deems pertinent to such study. The Council

‘shall also consider the proper integration of such courts into the judicial
system of the State, the cost of such a system of juvenile and domestic
relations courts, and to what extent the same would be compensated for
by lowered criminal and welfare costs.

Section 3. The Council shall complete its study and make a report
containing its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the
General Assembly not later than September one, nineteen hundred
forty-nine.