CHAPTER 122

AN ACT to amend and reenact § 16-172.71, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to method of providing probation service for
juveniles.

[H 142]

Approved February 24, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 16-172.71, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended
and reenacted as follows:

§ 16-172.71. Probation service shall be provided through one or more
of the following means: (1) The judge of the juvenile and domestic rela-
tions court may appoint from a list of eligibles certified by the Director,
one or more suitable persons as probation officers, in accordance with
established qualifications and regulations. (2) Where it is determined by
the local board of public welfare and the judge of the juvenile and domes-
tic relations court that the combined juvenile probation and child welfare
work load of a city or county is sufficient to require the full time of one
or more local probation child welfare workers on the staff of the local
department of public welfare such worker or workers may be employed
or designated and assigned exclusively to probation and child welfare
functions and shall give priority to court cases. The workers assigned to
probation child welfare work shall be appointed in accordance with the
usual procedure for appointment of personnel in the local departments
of public welfare and with the concurrence of the judge of the court
served. Where probation child welfare workers are so employed, the
superintendent of public welfare shall serve ex officio as chief probation
officer. (3) Where the probation or the probation child welfare work load
is not sufficient to justify provision of court services through provisions
(1) and (2) above, * two or more counties or counties and cities or cities
are hereby authorized to employ joint probation officers under such terms
and conditions as may be agreed upon by the political subdivision par-
ticipating in such employment. (4) In the event that it is not practical
to provide probation services under any one of the three methods listed
above, the loca] superintendent of public welfare shall serve as probation
officer; provided, however, that nothing contained in this section shall
preclude the use of an adult probation officer in the district under circum-
stances mutually acceptable to such officer, his appointing judge and the
judge of the juvenile and domestic relations court.