CHAPTER 229

An Act to amend and reenact § 19-202 of the Code of Virginia, relating to
the commitment before trial of certain persons when question 0}
sanity is raised.

[H 444]

Approved March 12, 1954

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

a That § 19-202 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as
ollows:

§ 19-202. If, prior to the time for trial of any person charged with
crime, either the court or attorney for the Commonwealth has reason tc
believe that such person is in such mental condition that his confinement
in a hospital for the insane or a colony for the feeble-minded is necessary
for proper care and observation, the court or the judge thereof may, afte1
hearing evidence on the subject, commit such person, if a white person.
to any State hospital for the insane best adapted to meet the needs of the
case and, if a colored person, to the Central State Hospital, under such
limitations as it may order, pending the determination of his mental condi-
tion. In any such case the court, in its discretion, may appoint one or more
physicians skilled in the diagnosis of insanity, or other qualified physicians,
and when any person is alleged to be feeble-minded may likewise appoint
persons skilled in the diagnosis of feeble-mindedness, not to exceed three,
to examine the defendant before such commitment is ordered, make such
investigation of the case as they may deem necessary and report to the
court the condition of the defendant at the time of their examination. A
copy of the complaint or indictment, attested by the clerk, together with
the report of the examining commission, including, as far as possible, a
personal history, according to the form prescribed by the general board
of directors of the State hospitals, shall be delivered with such person to
the superintendent of the hospital to which he shall have been committed
under the provisions of this section. As used in this section the term
court” shall be construed to include courts not of record and courts of
record.