ADMINISTRATIVE

  During the 1997 General Assembly session, the legislature
  passed legislation requiring that local school boards
  provide information, developed by the Office of the Attorney
  General, to students about the laws regarding the
  prosecution of juveniles as adults.  Specifically 22.1-279.4 
  of the Virginia Code states that : 

       school boards shall provide information
       developed by the office of the Attorney General to
       students regarding laws governing the prosecution
       of juveniles as adults for the commission of
       certain crimes.  Methods of providing such
       information may include, but shall not be limited
       to, public announcements in the schools, written
       notification to parents, publication in the
       student conduct manuals, and inclusion in those
       materials distributed to parents pursuant to
       22.1-279.3.

  In essence, the law permits those juveniles, age 14 years or
  older, to be prosecuted as adults under certain
  circumstances. The attached information has been developed
  with the Office of the Attorney General.   To further ensure
  adherence to the new law, local school boards should, at a
  minimum, provide the information to those students age 14
  years or older or their parents.  

  Any questions concerning this guidance should be directed to
  your local school board attorney.  Here, at the Department,
  you should contact Diane T. Atkinson at (804) 371-0035.


  Attachment:  A hard copy of this memo and its attachment
               will be sent to the superintendent's office.

  RTL/dta