{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/10.1-115.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/10.1-115.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/10.1-115.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/10.1-115.html"}],"law_id":62641,"edition_id":1,"section_id":62641,"structure_id":15659,"section_number":"10.1-115","catch_line":"Appointment of conservation officers; qualifications; oath","history":"1994, c. 205; 2015, cc. 64, 489.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Director, when he deems it necessary, may request the Governor to commission an individual designated by the Director to act as a conservation officer of the Commonwealth. Upon concurring with the Director’s request, the Governor shall direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to issue a conservation officer commission to the designated individual. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall deliver a copy of the commission to the Director. Any individual so commissioned shall hold his commission during his term of employment with the Department, subject to the provisions of § 10.1-118.B\n\nThe Director, upon the request of the Breaks Interstate Park Commission, may request the Governor to commission an individual who meets the requirements of § 10.1-120 and is designated by the Director to act as a conservation officer of the Commonwealth. Upon concurring with the Director’s request, the Governor shall direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to issue a conservation officer commission to the designated individual. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall deliver a copy of the commission to the Director.C\n\nTo be qualified to receive a conservation officer commission, a person shall (i) be at least 21 years of age and (ii) have graduated from high school or obtained an equivalent diploma.D\n\nEach conservation officer shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court of the city or county in which he resides, or in which he first is assigned duty, by taking the oaths prescribed by law. An employee of the Breaks Interstate Park Commission shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court of Dickenson County.E\n\nThe Director may designate certain conservation officers to be special conservation officers. Special conservation officers shall have the same authority and power as sheriffs throughout the Commonwealth to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":228394,"text":"The Director, when he deems it necessary, may request the Governor to commission an individual designated by the Director to act as a conservation officer of the Commonwealth. Upon concurring with the Director’s request, the Governor shall direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to issue a conservation officer commission to the designated individual. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall deliver a copy of the commission to the Director. Any individual so commissioned shall hold his commission during his term of employment with the Department, subject to the provisions of § 10.1-118.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":228395,"text":"The Director, upon the request of the Breaks Interstate Park Commission, may request the Governor to commission an individual who meets the requirements of § 10.1-120 and is designated by the Director to act as a conservation officer of the Commonwealth. Upon concurring with the Director’s request, the Governor shall direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to issue a conservation officer commission to the designated individual. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall deliver a copy of the commission to the Director.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":228396,"text":"To be qualified to receive a conservation officer commission, a person shall (i) be at least 21 years of age and (ii) have graduated from high school or obtained an equivalent diploma.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":228397,"text":"Each conservation officer shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court of the city or county in which he resides, or in which he first is assigned duty, by taking the oaths prescribed by law. An employee of the Breaks Interstate Park Commission shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court of Dickenson County.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":228398,"text":"The Director may designate certain conservation officers to be special conservation officers. Special conservation officers shall have the same authority and power as sheriffs throughout the Commonwealth to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15659,"edition_id":1,"name":"Conservation Officers","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13383,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:57:33","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:57:33","permalink":{"id":143447,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15659,"identifier":"4","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/4","url":"\/10.1\/I\/1\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13383,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12893,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:45","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:45","permalink":{"id":143317,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13383,"identifier":"1","token":"10.1\/I\/1","url":"\/10.1\/I\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12893,"edition_id":1,"name":"Activities Administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12740,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":143315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12893,"identifier":"I","token":"10.1\/I","url":"\/10.1\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12740,"edition_id":1,"name":"Conservation","identifier":"10.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":143313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12740,"identifier":"10.1","token":"10.1","url":"\/10.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":62641,"structure_id":15659,"section_number":"10.1-115","catch_line":"Appointment of conservation officers; qualifications; oath","url":"\/10.1-115\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/4\/10.1-115","metadata":false},{"id":66005,"structure_id":15659,"section_number":"10.1-116","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of conservation officers","url":"\/10.1-116\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/4\/10.1-116","metadata":false},{"id":67679,"structure_id":15659,"section_number":"10.1-117","catch_line":"Powers and duties of conservation officers","url":"\/10.1-117\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/4\/10.1-117","metadata":false},{"id":79042,"structure_id":15659,"section_number":"10.1-118","catch_line":"Decommissioning of conservation officers","url":"\/10.1-118\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/4\/10.1-118","metadata":false},{"id":59904,"structure_id":15659,"section_number":"10.1-119","catch_line":"Defense of conservation officer of the Department prosecuted on criminal charges","url":"\/10.1-119\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/4\/10.1-119","metadata":false},{"id":71325,"structure_id":15659,"section_number":"10.1-120","catch_line":"Commissioning of Breaks Interstate Park Commission employees as conservation officers","url":"\/10.1-120\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/4\/10.1-120","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":66005,"structure_id":15659,"section_number":"10.1-116","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of conservation officers","url":"\/10.1-116\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/4\/10.1-116","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/10.1-115\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1994. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 205<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2015, chapters 64<\/a> and 489<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79651,"section_number":"10.1-1019","catch_line":"Executive secretary; land management","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-1019\/"},{"id":66005,"section_number":"10.1-116","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of conservation officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-116\/"},{"id":71325,"section_number":"10.1-120","catch_line":"Commissioning of Breaks Interstate Park Commission employees as conservation officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-120\/"},{"id":72165,"section_number":"18.2-51.1","catch_line":"Malicious bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel; penalty; lesser-included offense","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-51.1\/"},{"id":64628,"section_number":"18.2-57","catch_line":"Assault and battery; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-57\/"},{"id":60675,"section_number":"19.2-81","catch_line":"Arrest without warrant authorized in certain cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-81\/"},{"id":86530,"section_number":"51.1-212","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-212\/"},{"id":85102,"section_number":"65.2-402.1","catch_line":"Presumption as to death or disability from infectious disease","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-402.1\/"},{"id":73488,"section_number":"9.1-101","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-101\/"},{"id":65278,"section_number":"9.1-113","catch_line":"Compliance with minimum training standards by certain officers; exceptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-113\/"},{"id":54405,"section_number":"9.1-400","catch_line":"Title of chapter; definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-400\/"},{"id":54070,"section_number":"9.1-801","catch_line":"Public safety officer defined","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-801\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":71325,"section_number":"10.1-120","catch_line":"Commissioning of Breaks Interstate Park Commission employees as conservation officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/10.1-120\/"}],"permalink":{"id":143449,"object_type":"law","relational_id":62641,"identifier":"10.1-115","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/4\/10.1-115","url":"\/10.1-115\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/10.1-115\/","token":"10.1\/I\/1\/4\/10.1-115","dublin_core":{"Title":"Appointment of conservation officers; qualifications; oath","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 10.1-115","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Director<\/span>, when he deems it necessary, may request the Governor to commission an individual designated by the Director<\/span> to act as a conservation officer of the Commonwealth. Upon concurring with the Director<\/span>’s request, the Governor shall direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to issue<\/span> a conservation officer commission to the designated individual. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall deliver a copy of the commission to the Director<\/span>. Any individual so commissioned shall hold his commission during his term of employment with the Department<\/span>, subject to the provisions of § 10.1-118<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Director<\/span>, upon the request of the Breaks Interstate Park Commission, may request the Governor to commission an individual who meets the requirements of § 10.1-120<\/a> and is designated by the Director<\/span> to act as a conservation officer of the Commonwealth. Upon concurring with the Director<\/span>’s request, the Governor shall direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to issue<\/span> a conservation officer commission to the designated individual. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall deliver a copy of the commission to the Director<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> To be qualified to receive a conservation officer commission, a person shall (i) be at least 21 years of age and (ii) have graduated from high school or obtained an equivalent diploma. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Each conservation officer shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of the city or county in which he resides, or in which he first is assigned duty, by taking the oaths<\/span> prescribed by law<\/span>. An employee of the Breaks Interstate Park Commission shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> of Dickenson County. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The Director<\/span> may designate certain conservation officers to be special conservation officers. Special conservation officers shall have the same authority and power as sheriffs throughout the Commonwealth to enforce the laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAPPOINTMENT OF CONSERVATION OFFICERS; QUALIFICATIONS; OATH (\u00a7 10.1-115)\n\nA. The Director, when he deems it necessary, may request the Governor to\ncommission an individual designated by the Director to act as a conservation\nofficer of the Commonwealth. Upon concurring with the Director’s request,\nthe Governor shall direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to issue a\nconservation officer commission to the designated individual. The Secretary of\nthe Commonwealth shall deliver a copy of the commission to the Director. Any\nindividual so commissioned shall hold his commission during his term of\nemployment with the Department, subject to the provisions of § 10.1-118.\n\nB. The Director, upon the request of the Breaks Interstate Park Commission, may\nrequest the Governor to commission an individual who meets the requirements of\n§ 10.1-120 and is designated by the Director to act as a conservation\nofficer of the Commonwealth. Upon concurring with the Director’s request,\nthe Governor shall direct the Secretary of the Commonwealth to issue a\nconservation officer commission to the designated individual. The Secretary of\nthe Commonwealth shall deliver a copy of the commission to the Director.\n\nC. To be qualified to receive a conservation officer commission, a person shall\n(i) be at least 21 years of age and (ii) have graduated from high school or\nobtained an equivalent diploma.\n\nD. Each conservation officer shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court\nof the city or county in which he resides, or in which he first is assigned\nduty, by taking the oaths prescribed by law. An employee of the Breaks\nInterstate Park Commission shall qualify before the clerk of the circuit court\nof Dickenson County.\n\nE. The Director may designate certain conservation officers to be special\nconservation officers. Special conservation officers shall have the same\nauthority and power as sheriffs throughout the Commonwealth to enforce the laws\nof the Commonwealth.\n\nHISTORY: 1994, c. 205; 2015, cc. 64, 489.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}