Emergency Services for Individuals in Crisis - Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)

Emergency Services for Individuals in Crisis - Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)
Skip to the content
About DBHDS
Human Resources
Procurement
Clinical and Quality Management
Boards and Councils
Newsroom
Strategic Plan
Legislative Resources
FOIA
DOJ Settlement Agreement
Department Directory
Facilities
Facilities
Price Transparency
Find your CSB
Virginia
988
Search our website
Quick Links
Get SFTP Support Forms
Receive Safety Alerts
Learn About STEP-VA
Access Long Term Care
Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP)
File a Service Complaint
Locate my Community Service Board
Find Help
For Individuals & Families
Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health
In collaboration with state and community partners, DBHDS plans, develops, directs, funds, and monitors the delivery of comprehensive behavioral health services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Behavioral health services may include services for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.
Child & Family Services
Mental Health Services
Recovery Support
Behavioral Health Wellness
Substance Use Services
Resources for Veterans
Developmental Services
Integrated Health
Behavioral Services
Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Housing
Employment
Waiver Services
REACH
Supported Decision Making
Victims of Eugenics Sterilization Compensation Program
Public Guardianship for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
My Life, My Community
Crisis Services
Crisis Services
DBHDS works with partners across Virginia to develop and maintain the Commonwealth’s continuum of crisis care, by ensuring that there is always someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere to go.
Find out more
Virginia 988
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
Human Rights
DBHDS works to ensure compliance with Human Rights Regulations by promoting human dignity, managing the DBHDS Human Rights complaint program, and advocating for the rights of people with disabilities in state service systems.
Forensic Services
Forensic Services
Forensic services include mental health evaluations and screenings, treatment of individuals with mental illness in jail, case management and restoration of competency to stand trial.
DBHDS develops programs and services for individuals at risk for involvement in the criminal justice system.
SVP Services
Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) services support the delivery of evaluation, treatment, and supervision services to individuals found by the court to meet the criteria of sexually violent predator.
For Providers
Support Coordination/Case Management Resources
Provider Network Supports
Centralized Training
Background Investigations Unit
Licensing
Licensing Information for Providers and Applicants
Provider Training and Regulatory Technical Assistance
Previous Newsletters, Correspondence, and Memos
Crisis Services
Child and Family Services
Licensed Provider Search
Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP)
Grants
Resources for Community Housing Guides
Substance Use Services
Developmental Services Information for Providers
For CSBs
CSB Performance Dashboard
CSB Support Forms
Grants
Resources for Support Coordinators and Case Managers
Disaster Behavioral Health Services in Virginia
Performance Contracts
Census and Waitlist Dashboard
Emergency Services for Individuals in Crisis
Get help now
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting
988
or visiting
988lifeline.org
If you are trying to reach a 988 call center in Virginia using an out-of-state area code, you can call
703-752-5263
Emergency Services
Emergency service providers are certified by DBHDS to conduct pre-admission assessments for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis who meet the code-mandated criteria for involuntary commitment, as defined in the Code of Virginia, Chapter 37.2.
View Code 37.2
Emergency Custody Order (ECO)
An individual may be taken into emergency custody by law enforcement based on the officer’s observations, reports from reliable witnesses, or a petition submitted to a magistrate for a Temporary Detention Order (TDO) evaluation. Emergency Custody Orders (ECOs) are valid for eight hours. Magistrates can either issue an ECO or decline to do so if the petition does not meet the criteria outlined in the Virginia Code.
§ 37.2-808. Emergency custody; issuance and execution of order.
Involuntary Temporary Detention Order (TDO)
Once an evaluation is completed, a magistrate may issue a Temporary Detention Order (TDO) based on a petition that meets the criteria outlined in the Virginia Code. A TDO may last up to 72 hours, unless it expires on a weekend, holiday, or another day when the court is closed. In such cases, the order may be extended to the next day the court is open.
§ 37.2-809. Involuntary temporary detention
Alternative Transportation
A magistrate issuing a Temporary Detention Order (TDO) will specify the law enforcement agency responsible for executing the order and providing transportation. The magistrate can also authorize transportation by an alternative provider, such as a family member, community services board (CSB) representative, or trained personnel, if they are available and capable of safely transporting the individual.
Local CSB emergency services workers can request alternative transport from their local magistrate, who may issue an Alternative Transportation Order if they determine the person is suitable for this option instead of law enforcement. DBHDS has contracts with Allied Universal and Steadfast Security to provide custody and transport services for individuals under a TDO. Alternative transportation services are available statewide, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Code of Virginia regarding Alternative Transportation.
Visit the CSB/BHA directory to find alternative transportation services in your area.
Facility Admission Criteria
Any person alleged to have a mental illness to a degree that warrants treatment in a facility may be admitted to a facility by compliance with one of the following admission procedures:
Voluntary admission
Admission of incapacitated persons pursuant to
37.2-805.1
Involuntary admission by the procedure described in
37.2-809
through §
37.2-820
More information regarding
Facility Admission Procedures
Emergency Services Information for Youth Experiencing Crisis
Emergency service providers are certified by DBHDS to conduct pre-admission assessments for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis who meet the code-mandated criteria for involuntary commitment, as defined in the Code of Virginia, Chapter 37.2.
View Code 37.2
Emergency Custody Order (ECO)
A magistrate can issue an Emergency Custody Order for a minor if there is probable cause to believe the minor, due to mental illness, poses a danger to themselves or others, or is unable to care for themselves properly. This order can be requested by the minor’s treating physician, parent, a responsible adult, or the magistrate. The order must include medical records disclosure and provide specific information as required by law.
Virginia Code for Emergency Custody Orders for Youth.
Involuntary Temporary Detention Order (TDO)
If a minor aged 14 or older objects to admission or cannot make an informed decision, they may be admitted to a willing facility for up to 120 hours if a parent applies. If the facility is a state hospital, the local community services board must provide a preadmission screening report and ensure all necessary findings, except for the minor’s consent, are completed before admission. A Temporary Detention Order (TDO) is not required in this case.
To view the below Codes of Virginia, click on the Code numbers.
16.1-339
Parental admission of an objecting minor 14 years of age or older
16.1-340.1
Involuntary temporary detention; issuance and execution of order
Alternative Transportation
A magistrate issuing a Temporary Detention Order (TDO) will specify the law enforcement agency responsible for executing the order and providing transportation. The magistrate can also authorize transportation by an alternative provider, such as a family member, community services board (CSB) representative, or trained personnel, if they are available and capable of safely transporting the individual.
Local CSB emergency services workers can request alternative transport from their local magistrate, who may issue an Alternative Transportation Order if they determine the person is suitable for this option instead of law enforcement. DBHDS has contracts with Allied Universal and Steadfast Security to provide custody and transport services for individuals under a TDO. Alternative transportation services are available statewide, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Code of Virginia regarding Alternative Transportation.
Visit the CSB/BHA directory to find alternative transportation services in your area.
Admission Procedures
Any minor alleged to have a mental illness that requires treatment in a facility may be admitted through one of the following admission procedures:
Voluntary admission
Admission of incapacitated persons
To view Code of Virginia
37.2-805.1
, click here.
Involuntary admission
To view codes
16.1-338
through
16.1-348
, click on the code numbers.
More Codes Pertaining to Youths
To view the Codes of Virginia, click on the code numbers.
§16.1-33
8 Parental admission of minors younger than 14 and nonobjecting minors 14 years of age or older
§16.1-340.1:1
Facility of temporary detention for minors
§16.1-340.2
Transportation of minor in the temporary detention process
Useful Links
Crisis Services Information for Individuals and Families
Information for Providers about Crisis Services
Information about Marcus Alert
Supporting individuals by promoting recovery, self-determination, and wellness in all aspects of life
Get In Touch
Find Help
Central Office:
1220 Bank Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1797
Richmond, VA 23218-1797
Phone:
(804) 786-3921
Voice TDD:
(804) 371-8977
Fax:
(804) 371-6638
Policies:
FOIA Policy
HIPAA Policy
Web Policy
Americans with Disabilities Act
Corporate:
Careers
Strategic Plan
Facilities
Catawba Hospital
Central State Hospital
Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents
Eastern State Hospital
Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute
Piedmont Geriatric Hospital
Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute
Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute
Western State Hospital
Southeastern Virginia Training Center
Hiram Davis Medical Center
Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation
© 2026 Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.