§ 37.2-829. Transportation of person in civil admission process.

When a person has been ordered to be admitted to a facility under §§ 37.2-814 through 37.2-821, a determination shall be made by the judge or special justice regarding the transportation of that person to the proper facility. The judge or special justice may consult with the person’s treating mental health professional and any involved community services board or behavioral health authority staff regarding the person’s dangerousness and whether the sheriff should transport or whether transportation alternatives as provided in § 37.2-830 may be utilized. If the judge or special justice determines that the person requires transportation by the sheriff, the person may be delivered to the care of the sheriff, as specified in this section, who shall transport the person to the proper facility. In no event shall transport commence later than six hours after notification to the sheriff of the judge’s or special justice’s order.

The sheriff of the jurisdiction where the person is a resident shall be responsible for transporting the person unless the sheriff’s office of that jurisdiction is located more than 100 road miles from the nearest boundary of the jurisdiction in which the proceedings took place. In cases where the sheriff of the jurisdiction of which the person is a resident is more than 100 road miles from the nearest boundary of the jurisdiction in which the proceedings took place, it shall be the responsibility of the sheriff of the latter jurisdiction to transport the person. The cost of transportation of any person ordered to be admitted pursuant to §§ 37.2-814 through 37.2-821 shall be paid by the Commonwealth from the same funds as for care in jail.

If any state hospital has become too crowded to admit any such person, the Commissioner shall give notice of the fact to all sheriffs and shall designate the facility to which they shall transport such persons.

(Code 1950, §§ 37-71, 37-79, 37-116; 1950, pp. 904, 907; 1964, c. 640; 1968, c. 477, § 37.1-71; 1970, c. 673; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 155; 1972, c. 639; 1976, c. 671; 1980, c. 582; 1987, c. 719; 1989, cc. 334, 534; 1990, c. 94; 1992, c. 419; 1995, c. 844; 1996, c. 184; 2003, c. 151; 2004, c. 737; 2005, c. 716.)