Virginia criminal charge

Escapes from juvenile facility in Virginia

Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session

Escapes from juvenile facility is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-477.1. Its classification is not fixed: Virginia assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.

Defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-477.1.

What is the penalty for escapes from juvenile facility in Virginia?

Penalties for Escapes from juvenile facility
Penalty	Range	Basis	Authority
Jail / prison	1 years to 5 years (Escape from secure facility by force or violence — A person escapes from a secure juvenile facility or secure juvenile detention facility by force or violence.; or, at the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both (§ 18.2-10(f)))	discretionary	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10
Fine	up to $2,500 (Escape from secure facility by force or violence — A person escapes from a secure juvenile facility or secure juvenile detention facility by force or violence.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(f))	discretionary	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10
Jail / prison	up to 12 months (Escape from secure facility without force or violence — A person escapes or remains away without proper authority from a secure juvenile facility or secure juvenile detention facility other than by force or violence.)	discretionary	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11
Fine	up to $2,500 (Escape from secure facility without force or violence — A person escapes or remains away without proper authority from a secure juvenile facility or secure juvenile detention facility other than by force or violence.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(a)))	discretionary	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11

Applies to current.

How is escapes from juvenile facility classified in Virginia?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Escapes from juvenile facility
Variant	Classification	When it applies	Statute
Escape from secure facility by force or violence	class 6 felony	A person escapes from a secure juvenile facility or secure juvenile detention facility by force or violence.	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-477.1B
Escape from secure facility without force or violence	class 1 misdemeanor	A person escapes or remains away without proper authority from a secure juvenile facility or secure juvenile detention facility other than by force or violence.	Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-477.1B

Common questions about escapes from juvenile facility in Virginia

Is escapes from juvenile facility a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: escapes from juvenile facility ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-477.1.

Escape from secure facility by force or violence: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-477.1B) · Escape from secure facility without force or violence: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-477.1B)

What are the penalties for escapes from juvenile facility in Virginia?

Penalties for escapes from juvenile facility in Virginia depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 6 felony — with the ranges set by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 and Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which Virginia statute covers escapes from juvenile facility?

Escapes from juvenile facility is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-477.1 (Escapes from juvenile facility; penalty).

Legal terms used in this law

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.