reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 2548 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Family Division Procedure|Chapter 201 - Family Division of the Superior Court|Subchapter IV - Abuse and Neglect Matters|§ 2548. Adjudicatory hearing for abuse and neglect matters

 (a) Except as provided pursuant to section 2544 of this title, abuse and neglect proceedings shall be instituted with the filing of a written petition or complaint giving with particularity all factual and other allegations relied upon asserting that a child is abused or neglected. Adjudicatory hearings shall be heard within ninety (90) days after the filing of a petition or complaint unless: (1) good cause is shown; or (2) there is consent by all of the parties; or (3) the parties entered into a continuance in contemplation of dismissal. (b) All hearings under this subchapter shall be dealt with by the Family Division and shall be heard without a jury. All hearings and proceedings shall be recorded either by stenographic notes, or by electric, mechanical, or other appropriate means. (c) The court shall proceed to hear evidence on the complaint or petition. The court shall record its findings. If the court finds the allegations in the complaint or petition have not been established, it shall dismiss the complaint or petition and order the child discharged from any shelter care or emergency temporary care heretofore ordered in the proceeding. (d) Any finding of child neglect or abuse shall be based upon clear and convincing evidence which is relevant and material to the extent of its probative value. (e) With the consent of all parties concerned the court shall conduct a dispositional hearing immediately following a finding of child abuse or neglect. Otherwise the court shall continue the hearing under this section for a reasonable period, not to exceed thirty days, except for good cause shown, to receive reports and other evidence bearing on the disposition of the complaint or petition. In this event the court shall make an appropriate order for shelter care subject to the supervision of the court during the period of the continuance. (f) Except in hearings to declare a person in contempt of court, the general public shall be excluded from all hearings under this subchapter upon the motion by the respondent or the child. Upon the granting of the motion, only the parties, their counsels, witnesses, and persons requested by a party shall be admitted. Such other persons as the court finds to have proper interest in the case or in the work of the court may be admitted by the court, on condition that such persons refrain from divulging any information which would identify the child or family involved.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 2549 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Family Division Procedure|Chapter 201 - Family Division of the Superior Court|Subchapter IV - Abuse and Neglect Matters|§ 2549. Disposition of abused or neglected child

 (a) In disposition hearings all relevant evidence, including oral and written reports, may be received by the court and may be relied upon to the extent of its probative value. The parties shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to examine reports prepared by the Department of Social Welfare prior to the dispositional hearing and to controvert oral or written reports so received and to cross-examine individuals making reports. (b) If a child is found to be abused or neglected, the court may make any of the following orders of disposition: (1) permit the child to remain with his parents, guardian or other person responsible for the child's care, subject to such conditions as the court may prescribe; or (2) place the child under protective supervision as per section 2551 of this title; or (3) make the child the subject of an order of protection as per section 2552 of this title; or (4) transfer legal custody to any of the following: (A) a relative or other individual who, after study of the Department of Social Welfare is found by the court to be qualified and willing to receive and care for the child; or (B) a public or private agency responsible for the care of abused or neglected children. (c) Unless a child found to be abused or neglected shall also be found to be delinquent, he shall not be committed to, or confined in, a facility for delinquent children. (d) The court may order the Department of Social Welfare to coordinate the provision of services by other agencies, or to provide services to fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 2551 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Family Division Procedure|Chapter 201 - Family Division of the Superior Court|Subchapter IV - Abuse and Neglect Matters|§ 2551. Protective supervision; enforcement

 (a) If an order of disposition from a petition alleging abuse or neglect releases a child to the custody of his parents, guardian or other persons responsible for his care, or continues him in such legal custody, the court may place the person having custody of the child, except for representatives of private or public agencies or government departments, under supervision of the Department of Social Welfare. The orders of the court shall define the terms and conditions of protective supervision. (b) Orders of protective supervision may be enforced by citation to show cause for contempt of court by reason of any violation thereof and, where protection of the welfare of the child so requires, by the issuance of a warrant to take the alleged violator into custody and bring him before the court.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 2552 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Family Division Procedure|Chapter 201 - Family Division of the Superior Court|Subchapter IV - Abuse and Neglect Matters|§ 2552. Order of protection; enforcement

 (a) The court may make an order of protection in assistance of, or as a condition of, any other order authorized under this subchapter. The order of protection may set forth reasonable conditions of behavior to be observed for a specified period by any person who is before the court. Such an order may require any such person: (1) to stay away from the home or place of custody of the child; (2) to permit a parent to visit the child at stated periods; (3) to abstain from offensive conduct against the child, his parent or any person to whom legal custody of the child is awarded; (4) to give proper attention to the care of the home; (5) to cooperate in good faith with an agency to which custody of the child is entrusted by the court or with an agency or association to which the child is referred by the court; (6) to refrain from acts of commission or omission that tend to make the home not a proper place for the child. (b) Orders of protection may be enforced by citation to show cause for contempt of court by reason of any violation thereof and, should the welfare of the child so require, by the issuance of a warrant to take the alleged violator into custody and bring him before the court.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 2553 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Family Division Procedure|Chapter 201 - Family Division of the Superior Court|Subchapter IV - Abuse and Neglect Matters|§ 2553. Protection of religious affiliation

 In placing a child under the guardianship or legal custody of an individual or of a private agency or institution, and in granting adoption, the court shall whenever practicable select a person or agency or institution governed by persons of the same religious faith as that of the parents of such child, or in case of a difference in the religious faith of the parents, then of the religious faith of the child, or if the religious faith of the child is not ascertainable, then of the faith of either of the parents.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 2555 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Family Division Procedure|Chapter 201 - Family Division of the Superior Court|Subchapter IV - Abuse and Neglect Matters|§ 2555. Court Appointed Special Advocates

 The court may appoint a person from a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program to represent the interest of abused and neglected children in court proceedings. The court will by court order, court rule, or other written agreement with a CASA Program, define the working relationship program between the program and the court. The Court may appoint a CASA Program member to represent a child as a guardian ad litem pursuant to section 2540(b)(8) of this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3501 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 301 - General Provisions|§ 3501. Application of subtitle.

 (a) Unless otherwise specified, this subtitle applies both to actions in the district court and to actions in the Superior Court, within their respective jurisdictions. (b) This subtitle applies both to prosecutions for offenses against the laws of the Virgin Islands and to prosecutions for offenses against the laws of the United States unless a different procedure is required under the laws of the United States.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3502 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 301 - General Provisions|§ 3502. Security for costs and disbursements.

 The judge of the Superior Court may, in his discretion, require the person making the complaint in a criminal action to give security for costs and disbursements before filing or receiving a complaint therein.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3503 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 301 - General Provisions|§ 3503. Counsel for indigent defendants

 (a) Every criminal case of misdemeanor in which a penalty of imprisonment may be imposed, and in every case of preliminary investigation on a charge of felony, in which the defendant appears without counsel, in the Superior Court, the court shall advise the defendant that he has a right to be represented by counsel and that counsel will be appointed to represent him if he is financially unable to obtain same. Unless the defendant waives the appointment of counsel, the court, if satisfied from the financial statement filed pursuant to chapter 302 of this title that the defendant is indigent and therefore unable to obtain counsel, shall refer such defendant to the Office of the Public Defender, which Public Defender shall represent him at every stage of the proceeding against him; Provided, however, the Court may, when in its judgment the circumstances warrant it, assign other counsel to represent the defendant at every stage of the proceedings; Provided, however, That the judges of the Superior Court may appoint counsel for such indigent persons from a panel of private attorneys maintained by the Superior Court for this purpose in no more than 15 percent in cases of defendants who by reason of indigence, are unable to obtain counsel. (b) Attorneys at law appointed by the Superior Court under subsection (a) of this section to represent defendants financially unable to employ counsel may be allowed the necessary expenses, upon verified statements thereof being filed with the clerk of the court, and reasonable compensation for their services in carrying out their assignments. The amount of such compensation shall, in each case, be fixed by the court and such compensation and expenses shall be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by law. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in every criminal case in which the defendant is a peace officer charged with an offense arising out of and during the performance of his duties, such officer shall have the option to select for his defense an attorney of his choice, other than the Attorney General or any member of his staff, whose necessary expenses and reasonable compensation for services shall be paid in the same manner as is provided in subsection (b) of this section. For the purposes of this subsection the word “court” shall be deemed to include all Courts of the Virgin Islands. (d) The Supreme Court may from time to time prescribe rules for the implementation of subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3504 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 301 - General Provisions|§ 3504. Warrants of arrest, preliminary investigations, commitment, and bail

 The judges of all the courts of the Virgin Islands shall have power to issue warrants of arrest, to make preliminary investigations, to commit to the district court persons charged with offenses against the laws of the United States and of the Virgin Islands cognizable in that court, and to grant bail in bailable cases. A five dollar service fee shall be added to the amount of any cash or property bond posted under the provision of this chapter.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3505 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 301 - General Provisions|§ 3505. Forfeiture of bail and arrest for failure to appear

 If the defendant in any court of the Virgin Islands has been released from custody on bail or has deposited money in lieu thereof, and does not appear to be arraigned at the time set for arraignment, or does not appear at the time of trial or at any time during the trial or for judgment, the court in addition to the forfeiture of the undertaking of bail or the money deposited in lieu thereof shall direct the clerk to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3506 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 301 - General Provisions|§ 3506. Additional bail; default of bail

 When proof is made to the judge that a person previously admitted to bail on a criminal charge is about to abscond, and that his bail is insufficient, the judge shall require such person to give better security, or, for default thereof, cause him to be committed; and an order for his arrest may be indorsed on the former commitment, or a bench warrant therefor may be issued, setting forth the cause thereof. The bench warrant shall be issued by the clerk, upon direction of the judge.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3507 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 301 - General Provisions|§ 3507. Time of issuance of bench warrant for failure to appear for judgment

 The clerk at any time after the making of the order for a bench warrant for failure of the defendant to appear for judgment, on the applicable of the United States attorney, shall issue such warrant whether the court is sitting or not.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3508 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 301 - General Provisions|§ 3508. Form and execution of bench warrant

 A bench warrant issued under section 3505 or 3506 of this title shall be in such form as the judge prescribes and shall be signed by the clerk, and, if it is issued because of the defendant's failure to appear for judgment, shall state generally the crime of which he was convicted. A bench warrant issued under either of such sections shall be directed to any peace officer as defined in section 3561 of this title, and shall be executed by such officer in the same manner as a warrant of arrest.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3509 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 301 - General Provisions|§ 3509. Video recorded admissions

 (a) For purposes of this section the term “admission” includes a confession of guilt by a defendant. (b) A video recorded confession, if otherwise admissible, is admissible as evidence in any criminal proceeding.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3541 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 303 - Limitation of Actions|§ 3541. Time of commencement of criminal action

 (a) A criminal action shall be commenced within the following periods: (1) For murder, felony child abuse, felony child neglect, any felony sexual offense perpetrated against a victim, human trafficking, embezzlement of public moneys, and the falsification of public records, there is no limitation of the time within which a prosecution shall be commenced. (2) For any felony other than specified above, action shall be commenced with three years after its commission. (3) For any misdemeanor, action shall be commenced within one year after its commission. (b) If the defendant is out of the Virgin Islands when the offense is committed, the information may be filed within the term herein limited after his coming within the Virgin Islands, and no time during which the defendant is not an inhabitant of, or usually resident within, the Virgin Islands is a part of the limitation. (c) Nothing in this section extends to persons fleeing from justice.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3601 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 307 - Mode of Trial; Trial Jury|§ 3601. Jury trial in criminal actions

 Under section 26 of the Revised Organic Act, approved July 22, 1954, in any criminal case originating in the district court, no person shall be denied the right to trial by jury if he demands it. If no jury is demanded the case shall be tried by the judge of the district court without a jury, except that the judge may, on his own motion, order a jury for the trial of any criminal action.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3602 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 307 - Mode of Trial; Trial Jury|§ 3602. Trial jury; number; how chosen

 The trial jury in criminal actions shall consist of twelve persons, unless the parties consent to a lesser number, except as provided in Title 4, section 40 of this Code. The trial jury shall be drawn by lot by the clerk from a trial jury box containing the names of those who have been summoned and excused as jurors under chapter 29 of Title 4.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3603 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 307 - Mode of Trial; Trial Jury|§ 3603. Challenges

 (a) In criminal actions the parties shall be entitled to peremptory challenges to the extent authorized by Rule 24(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. (b) All challenges for cause or favor, whether to the array or panel or to individual jurors, shall be determined by the court.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3604 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 307 - Mode of Trial; Trial Jury|§ 3604. Jury to be sworn

 As soon as the trial jury in a criminal action has been selected, an oath or affirmation shall be administered to the jurors to the effect that they and each of them will well and truly try the matter in issue, and a true verdict given according to the law and the evidence.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3631 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 309 - Conduct of the Trial; Verdict|§ 3631. Order of procedure

 After the jury is impaneled and sworn, the trial shall proceed in the following order: (1) the United States attorney may state the case of the prosecution, and may briefly state the evidence by which he expects to sustain it; (2) the defendant, or his counsel, may then state his defense, and may briefly state the evidence he expects to offer in support of it; (3) the United States attorney shall produce evidence; and the defendant shall then produce his evidence; (4) the United States attorney shall then be confined to rebutting evidence, unless the court, for good reasons, in furtherance of justice, permits him to offer evidence in chief; (5) when the evidence is concluded, unless the case is submitted without argument, the United States attorney shall commence, the defendant or his counsel follow, and the United States attorney conclude, the argument to the jury; (6) after the arguments are completed, the court shall instruct the jury.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3632 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 309 - Conduct of the Trial; Verdict|§ 3632. Keeping of jury; retirement; duties of officer in charge

 The provisions of sections 353 and 354 of this title shall apply in criminal actions as well as in civil actions.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3633 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 309 - Conduct of the Trial; Verdict|§ 3633. Discharge without verdict

 The court may discharge a jury without prejudice to the prosecution in case of accident or calamity, or because there is no probability of the jurors agreeing, and the reason for the discharge shall be entered in the minutes.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3634 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 309 - Conduct of the Trial; Verdict|§ 3634. Questions of law and fact

 (a) All questions of law, including the admissibility of testimony, the facts preliminary to such admission, and the construction of statutes and other writings, and other rules of evidence, shall be decided by the court, and all discussions of law addressed to it. Whenever the knowledge of the court is made evidence of a fact, the court shall declare such knowledge to the jury, who are bound to accept it as conclusive. (b) Although the jury has the power to find a general verdict, which includes questions of law as well as fact, they are bound, nevertheless, to receive as law what is laid down as such by the court; but all questions of fact other than those mentioned in subsection (a) of this section shall be decided by the jury, and all evidence thereon addressed to them.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3635 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 309 - Conduct of the Trial; Verdict|§ 3635. Degrees of crime

 When it appears that the defendant has committed a crime, and there is reasonable ground of doubt in which of two or more degrees he is guilty, he can be convicted of the lowest of those degrees only.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3636 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 309 - Conduct of the Trial; Verdict|§ 3636. Larceny, embezzlement, or false pretenses

 When an information charges an offense against property by larceny, embezzlement, or obtaining by false pretenses, the jury, on conviction, shall ascertain and declare in the verdict the value of the property stolen, embezzled, or falsely obtained.
V.I. Code tit. 5, § 3638 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 5 - Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 3 - Criminal Procedure|Part I - Procedure Generally|Chapter 309 - Conduct of the Trial; Verdict|§ 3638. Prisoner as witness

 When the testimony, for either the government or the defendant, of a material witness who is in custody within the Virgin Islands is desired, the court in its discretion may, upon the application of either the government or the defendant, issue an order for his temporary removal from the place where he is in custody, and for his production before the court. The order may be executed by the marshal or any of his deputies, or any member of the police force, and it shall be his duty to bring such person before the court and when his presence is no longer required as a witness to deliver such person back to the officer from whose custody the witness was received.