{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/16.1-253.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/16.1-253.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/16.1-253.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/16.1-253.2.html"}],"law_id":82642,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82642,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-253.2","catch_line":"Violation of provisions of protective orders; penalties","history":"1987, c. 700; 1988, c. 501; 1991, cc. 534, 715; 1992, c. 886; 1996, c. 866; 2003, c. 219; 2004, cc. 972, 980; 2007, cc. 745, 923; 2012, c. 637; 2013, cc. 761, 774; 2016, cc. 583, 585, 638; 2020, c. 487; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 184, 529; 2024, cc. 108, 118; 2025, cc. 208, 217, 550, 560.","full_text":"A\n\nIn addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who violates any provision of a protective order issued pursuant to § 16.1-253.1, 16.1-253.4, 16.1-278.14, or 16.1-279.1 , subsection B of § 20-103, or any judgment, order, or decree entitled to full faith and credit pursuant to subsection F of § 16.1-279.1 when such violation involves a provision of the protective order that prohibits such person from (i) going or remaining upon land, buildings, or premises; (ii) further acts of family abuse; or (iii) committing a criminal offense, or which prohibits contacts by the respondent with the allegedly abused person or family or household members of the allegedly abused person as the court deems appropriate, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The punishment for any person convicted of a second offense of violating a protective order, when the offense is committed within five years of the prior conviction and when either the instant or prior offense was based on an act or threat of violence, shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of 60 days. Any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense of violating a protective order, when the offense is committed within 20 years of the first conviction and when either the instant or one of the prior offenses was based on an act or threat of violence is guilty of a Class 6 felony and the punishment shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of six months. The mandatory minimum terms of confinement prescribed for violations of this section shall be served consecutively with any other sentence.B\n\nIn addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who, while knowingly armed with a firearm or other deadly weapon, violates any provision of a protective order with which he has been served issued pursuant to § 16.1-253.1, 16.1-253.4, 16.1-278.14, or 16.1-279.1 or subsection B of § 20-103 is guilty of a Class 6 felony.C\n\nIf the respondent commits an assault and battery upon any party protected by the protective order resulting in bodily injury to the party or stalks any party protected by the protective order in violation of § 18.2-60.3, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Any person who violates such a protective order by furtively entering the home of any protected party while the party is present, or by entering and remaining in the home of the protected party until the party arrives, is guilty of a Class 6 felony, in addition to any other penalty provided by law.D\n\nUpon conviction of any offense hereunder for which a mandatory minimum term of confinement is not specified, the person shall be sentenced to a term of confinement and in no case shall the entire term imposed be suspended. Upon conviction, the court shall, in addition to the sentence imposed, enter a protective order pursuant to § 16.1-279.1 for a specified period not exceeding two years from the date of conviction.E\n\nA violation of this section may be prosecuted in the jurisdiction where the protective order was issued, in any county, city, or town where any act constituting the violation of the protective order occurred, or in the jurisdiction where the party protected by the protective order resided at the time of such violation.F\n\nUpon a violation of this section, if a Military Protective Order issued by a commanding officer in the Armed Forces of the United States, the Virginia National Guard, or the National Guard of any other state against a person under such officer’s command and registered in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) has been issued against the same defendant, the law-enforcement officer or agency shall inform the military law-enforcement officer or agency that entered the Military Protective Order into the NCIC or the commanding officer who issued the Military Protective Order of such violation telephonically, in writing, via email, via text, or by any other routine means of interagency communication.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":296089,"text":"In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who violates any provision of a protective order issued pursuant to § 16.1-253.1, 16.1-253.4, 16.1-278.14, or 16.1-279.1 , subsection B of § 20-103, or any judgment, order, or decree entitled to full faith and credit pursuant to subsection F of § 16.1-279.1 when such violation involves a provision of the protective order that prohibits such person from (i) going or remaining upon land, buildings, or premises; (ii) further acts of family abuse; or (iii) committing a criminal offense, or which prohibits contacts by the respondent with the allegedly abused person or family or household members of the allegedly abused person as the court deems appropriate, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The punishment for any person convicted of a second offense of violating a protective order, when the offense is committed within five years of the prior conviction and when either the instant or prior offense was based on an act or threat of violence, shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of 60 days. Any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense of violating a protective order, when the offense is committed within 20 years of the first conviction and when either the instant or one of the prior offenses was based on an act or threat of violence is guilty of a Class 6 felony and the punishment shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of six months. The mandatory minimum terms of confinement prescribed for violations of this section shall be served consecutively with any other sentence.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":296090,"text":"In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who, while knowingly armed with a firearm or other deadly weapon, violates any provision of a protective order with which he has been served issued pursuant to § 16.1-253.1, 16.1-253.4, 16.1-278.14, or 16.1-279.1 or subsection B of § 20-103 is guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":296091,"text":"If the respondent commits an assault and battery upon any party protected by the protective order resulting in bodily injury to the party or stalks any party protected by the protective order in violation of § 18.2-60.3, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Any person who violates such a protective order by furtively entering the home of any protected party while the party is present, or by entering and remaining in the home of the protected party until the party arrives, is guilty of a Class 6 felony, in addition to any other penalty provided by law.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":296092,"text":"Upon conviction of any offense hereunder for which a mandatory minimum term of confinement is not specified, the person shall be sentenced to a term of confinement and in no case shall the entire term imposed be suspended. Upon conviction, the court shall, in addition to the sentence imposed, enter a protective order pursuant to § 16.1-279.1 for a specified period not exceeding two years from the date of conviction.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":296093,"text":"A violation of this section may be prosecuted in the jurisdiction where the protective order was issued, in any county, city, or town where any act constituting the violation of the protective order occurred, or in the jurisdiction where the party protected by the protective order resided at the time of such violation.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":296094,"text":"Upon a violation of this section, if a Military Protective Order issued by a commanding officer in the Armed Forces of the United States, the Virginia National Guard, or the National Guard of any other state against a person under such officer’s command and registered in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) has been issued against the same defendant, the law-enforcement officer or agency shall inform the military law-enforcement officer or agency that entered the Military Protective Order into the NCIC or the commanding officer who issued the Military Protective Order of such violation telephonically, in writing, via email, via text, or by any other routine means of interagency communication.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13976,"edition_id":1,"name":"Immediate Custody, Arrest, Detention and Shelter Care","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12701,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:29","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:29","permalink":{"id":161527,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13976,"identifier":"4","token":"16.1\/11\/4","url":"\/16.1\/11\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12701,"edition_id":1,"name":"Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts","identifier":"11","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12700,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":160945,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12701,"identifier":"11","token":"16.1\/11","url":"\/16.1\/11\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12700,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courts Not of Record","identifier":"16.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":160919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12700,"identifier":"16.1","token":"16.1","url":"\/16.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":56400,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-246","catch_line":"When and how child may be taken into immediate custody","url":"\/16.1-246\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-246","metadata":false},{"id":55210,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-247","catch_line":"Duties of person taking child into custody","url":"\/16.1-247\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-247","metadata":false},{"id":55045,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-247.1","catch_line":"Custodial interrogation of a child; parental notification and contact; inadmissibility of statement","url":"\/16.1-247.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-247.1","metadata":false},{"id":57660,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-248","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-248\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-248","metadata":false},{"id":66525,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-248.1","catch_line":"Criteria for detention or shelter care","url":"\/16.1-248.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-248.1","metadata":false},{"id":85303,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-248.2","catch_line":"Mental health screening and assessment for certain juveniles","url":"\/16.1-248.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-248.2","metadata":false},{"id":77469,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-248.3","catch_line":"Medical records of juveniles in secure facility","url":"\/16.1-248.3\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-248.3","metadata":false},{"id":56829,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-249","catch_line":"Places of confinement for juveniles","url":"\/16.1-249\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-249","metadata":false},{"id":70154,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-249.1","catch_line":"Places of confinement to give notice of intake of certain persons","url":"\/16.1-249.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-249.1","metadata":false},{"id":76378,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-250","catch_line":"Procedure for detention hearing","url":"\/16.1-250\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-250","metadata":false},{"id":59519,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-250.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-250.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-250.1","metadata":false},{"id":55186,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-251","catch_line":"Emergency removal order","url":"\/16.1-251\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-251","metadata":false},{"id":70845,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-252","catch_line":"Preliminary removal order; hearing","url":"\/16.1-252\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-252","metadata":false},{"id":62537,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-253","catch_line":"Preliminary protective order","url":"\/16.1-253\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-253","metadata":false},{"id":61705,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-253.1","catch_line":"Preliminary protective orders in cases of family abuse; confidentiality","url":"\/16.1-253.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-253.1","metadata":false},{"id":82642,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-253.2","catch_line":"Violation of provisions of protective orders; penalties","url":"\/16.1-253.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-253.2","metadata":false},{"id":56938,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-253.3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-253.3\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-253.3","metadata":false},{"id":60177,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-253.4","catch_line":"Emergency protective orders authorized in certain cases; penalty","url":"\/16.1-253.4\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-253.4","metadata":false},{"id":65132,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-254","catch_line":"Responsibility for and limitation on transportation of children","url":"\/16.1-254\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-254","metadata":false},{"id":82466,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-255","catch_line":"Limitation on issuance of detention orders for juveniles; appearance by juvenile","url":"\/16.1-255\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-255","metadata":false},{"id":80695,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-256","catch_line":"Limitations as to issuance of warrants for juveniles; detention orders","url":"\/16.1-256\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-256","metadata":false},{"id":82001,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-257","catch_line":"Interference with or obstruction of officer; concealment or removal of child","url":"\/16.1-257\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-257","metadata":false},{"id":74524,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-258","catch_line":"Bonds and forfeitures thereof","url":"\/16.1-258\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-258","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":61705,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-253.1","catch_line":"Preliminary protective orders in cases of family abuse; confidentiality","url":"\/16.1-253.1\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-253.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":56938,"structure_id":13976,"section_number":"16.1-253.3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/16.1-253.3\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-253.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/16.1-253.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1987. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 700 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. Unfortunately, the 1987 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 13 times. 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. Those modifications are as follows: in 1988, chapter 501; in 1991, chapters 534 and 715; in 1992, chapter 886; in 1996, chapter 866<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 219<\/a>; in 2004, chapters 972<\/a> and 980<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 745<\/a> and 923<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 637<\/a>; in 2013, chapters 761<\/a> and 774<\/a>; in 2016, chapters 583<\/a>, 585<\/a>, and 638<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 487<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 108<\/a> and 118<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 208<\/a>, 217<\/a>, 550<\/a>, and 560<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":61705,"section_number":"16.1-253.1","catch_line":"Preliminary protective orders in cases of family abuse; confidentiality","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-253.1\/"},{"id":60177,"section_number":"16.1-253.4","catch_line":"Emergency protective orders authorized in certain cases; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-253.4\/"},{"id":62456,"section_number":"16.1-279.1","catch_line":"Protective order in cases of family abuse","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-279.1\/"},{"id":54404,"section_number":"16.1-298","catch_line":"Effect of petition for or pendency of appeal; bail","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-298\/"},{"id":63770,"section_number":"16.1-309.1","catch_line":"Exception as to confidentiality","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-309.1\/"},{"id":68420,"section_number":"16.1-69.55","catch_line":"Retention of case records; limitations on enforcement of judgments; extensions","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.55\/"},{"id":82793,"section_number":"17.1-213","catch_line":"Disposition of papers in ended cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-213\/"},{"id":80246,"section_number":"17.1-805","catch_line":"Adoption of initial discretionary sentencing guideline midpoints","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-805\/"},{"id":56192,"section_number":"19.2-11.01","catch_line":"Crime victim and witness rights","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-11.01\/"},{"id":72639,"section_number":"19.2-310.2","catch_line":"Blood, saliva, or tissue sample required for DNA analysis upon conviction of certain crimes; fee","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-310.2\/"},{"id":82582,"section_number":"19.2-390","catch_line":"Reports to be made by local law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, clerks of court, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Corrections officials to State Police; material submitted by other agencies","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-390\/"},{"id":61280,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"},{"id":86739,"section_number":"19.2-81.3","catch_line":"Arrest without a warrant authorized in cases of assault and battery against a family or household member and stalking and for violations of protective orders; procedure, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-81.3\/"},{"id":63586,"section_number":"53.1-202.3","catch_line":"Rate at which sentence credits may be earned; prerequisites","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-202.3\/"},{"id":58640,"section_number":"53.1-40.02","catch_line":"Conditional release of terminally ill prisoners","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-40.02\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":61705,"section_number":"16.1-253.1","catch_line":"Preliminary protective orders in cases of family abuse; confidentiality","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-253.1\/"},{"id":60177,"section_number":"16.1-253.4","catch_line":"Emergency protective orders authorized in certain cases; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-253.4\/"},{"id":75260,"section_number":"16.1-278.14","catch_line":"Criminal jurisdiction; protective orders; family offenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-278.14\/"},{"id":62456,"section_number":"16.1-279.1","catch_line":"Protective order in cases of family abuse","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-279.1\/"},{"id":54485,"section_number":"18.2-60.3","catch_line":"Stalking; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-60.3\/"},{"id":84768,"section_number":"20-103","catch_line":"Court may make orders pending suit for divorce, custody or visitation, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-103\/"}],"permalink":{"id":161589,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82642,"identifier":"16.1-253.2","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-253.2","url":"\/16.1-253.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/16.1-253.2\/","token":"16.1\/11\/4\/16.1-253.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Violation of provisions of protective orders; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 16.1-253.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In addition to any other penalty<\/span> provided by law<\/span>, any person who violates any provision of a protective order<\/span> issued pursuant to § 16.1-253.1<\/a>, 16.1-253.4<\/a>, 16.1-278.14<\/a>, or 16.1-279.1<\/a> , subsection B of § 20-103<\/a>, or any judgment<\/span>, order<\/span>, or decree<\/span> entitled to full faith and credit pursuant to subsection F of § 16.1-279.1<\/a> when such violation involves a provision of the protective order<\/span> that prohibits such person from (i) going or remaining upon land, buildings, or premises; (ii) further acts of family abuse<\/span>; or (iii) committing a criminal offense<\/span>, or which prohibits contacts by the respondent with the allegedly abused person or family or household members<\/span> of the allegedly abused person as the court<\/span> deems appropriate, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. The punishment for any person convicted of a second offense<\/span> of violating a protective order<\/span>, when the offense<\/span> is committed within five years of the prior conviction<\/span> and when either the instant or prior offense<\/span> was based on an act or threat of violence, shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of 60 days. Any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense<\/span> of violating a protective order<\/span>, when the offense<\/span> is committed within 20 years of the first conviction<\/span> and when either the instant or one of the prior offenses<\/span> was based on an act or threat of violence is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span> and the punishment shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of six months. The mandatory minimum terms of confinement prescribed for violations of this section shall be served consecutively with any other sentence. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> In addition to any other penalty<\/span> provided by law<\/span>, any person who, while knowingly armed with a firearm or other deadly weapon, violates any provision of a protective order<\/span> with which he has been served issued pursuant to § 16.1-253.1<\/a>, 16.1-253.4<\/a>, 16.1-278.14<\/a>, or 16.1-279.1<\/a> or subsection B of § 20-103<\/a> is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If the respondent commits an assault<\/span> and battery<\/span> upon any party<\/span> protected by the protective order<\/span> resulting in bodily injury to the party<\/span> or stalks any party<\/span> protected by the protective order<\/span> in violation of § 18.2-60.3<\/a>, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. Any person who violates such a protective order<\/span> by furtively entering the home of any protected party<\/span> while the party<\/span> is present, or by entering and remaining in the home of the protected party<\/span> until the party<\/span> arrives, is guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>, in addition to any other penalty<\/span> provided by law<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Upon conviction<\/span> of any offense<\/span> hereunder for which a mandatory minimum term of confinement is not specified, the person shall be sentenced to a term of confinement and in no case shall the entire term imposed be suspended. Upon conviction<\/span>, the court<\/span> shall, in addition to the sentence imposed, enter a protective order<\/span> pursuant to § 16.1-279.1<\/a> for a specified period not exceeding two years from the date of conviction<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> A violation of this section may be prosecuted in the jurisdiction<\/span> where the protective order<\/span> was issued, in any county, city, or town where any act constituting the violation of the protective order<\/span> occurred, or in the jurisdiction<\/span> where the party<\/span> protected by the protective order<\/span> resided at the time of such violation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Upon a violation of this section, if a Military Protective Order<\/span> issued by a commanding officer in the Armed Forces of the United States, the Virginia National Guard, or the National Guard of any other state against a person under such officer’s command and registered in the National Crime<\/span> Information Center (NCIC) has been issued against the same defendant<\/span>, the law<\/span>-enforcement officer or agency shall inform the military law-enforcement officer or agency that entered the Military Protective Order<\/span> into the NCIC or the commanding officer who issued the Military Protective Order<\/span> of such violation telephonically, in writing, via email, via text, or by any other routine means of interagency communication. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nVIOLATION OF PROVISIONS OF PROTECTIVE ORDERS; PENALTIES (\u00a7 16.1-253.2)\n\nA. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who violates any\nprovision of a protective order issued pursuant to § 16.1-253.1,\n16.1-253.4, 16.1-278.14, or 16.1-279.1 , subsection B of § 20-103, or any\njudgment, order, or decree entitled to full faith and credit pursuant to\nsubsection F of § 16.1-279.1 when such violation involves a provision of\nthe protective order that prohibits such person from (i) going or remaining upon\nland, buildings, or premises; (ii) further acts of family abuse; or (iii)\ncommitting a criminal offense, or which prohibits contacts by the respondent\nwith the allegedly abused person or family or household members of the allegedly\nabused person as the court deems appropriate, is guilty of a Class 1\nmisdemeanor. The punishment for any person convicted of a second offense of\nviolating a protective order, when the offense is committed within five years of\nthe prior conviction and when either the instant or prior offense was based on\nan act or threat of violence, shall include a mandatory minimum term of\nconfinement of 60 days. Any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense of\nviolating a protective order, when the offense is committed within 20 years of\nthe first conviction and when either the instant or one of the prior offenses\nwas based on an act or threat of violence is guilty of a Class 6 felony and the\npunishment shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of six months.\nThe mandatory minimum terms of confinement prescribed for violations of this\nsection shall be served consecutively with any other sentence.\n\nB. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who, while\nknowingly armed with a firearm or other deadly weapon, violates any provision of\na protective order with which he has been served issued pursuant to §\n16.1-253.1, 16.1-253.4, 16.1-278.14, or 16.1-279.1 or subsection B of §\n20-103 is guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\nC. If the respondent commits an assault and battery upon any party protected by\nthe protective order resulting in bodily injury to the party or stalks any party\nprotected by the protective order in violation of § 18.2-60.3, he is guilty\nof a Class 6 felony. Any person who violates such a protective order by\nfurtively entering the home of any protected party while the party is present,\nor by entering and remaining in the home of the protected party until the party\narrives, is guilty of a Class 6 felony, in addition to any other penalty\nprovided by law.\n\nD. Upon conviction of any offense hereunder for which a mandatory minimum term\nof confinement is not specified, the person shall be sentenced to a term of\nconfinement and in no case shall the entire term imposed be suspended. Upon\nconviction, the court shall, in addition to the sentence imposed, enter a\nprotective order pursuant to § 16.1-279.1 for a specified period not\nexceeding two years from the date of conviction.\n\nE. A violation of this section may be prosecuted in the jurisdiction where the\nprotective order was issued, in any county, city, or town where any act\nconstituting the violation of the protective order occurred, or in the\njurisdiction where the party protected by the protective order resided at the\ntime of such violation.\n\nF. Upon a violation of this section, if a Military Protective Order issued by a\ncommanding officer in the Armed Forces of the United States, the Virginia\nNational Guard, or the National Guard of any other state against a person under\nsuch officer’s command and registered in the National Crime Information\nCenter (NCIC) has been issued against the same defendant, the law-enforcement\nofficer or agency shall inform the military law-enforcement officer or agency\nthat entered the Military Protective Order into the NCIC or the commanding\nofficer who issued the Military Protective Order of such violation\ntelephonically, in writing, via email, via text, or by any other routine means\nof interagency communication.\n\nHISTORY: 1987, c. 700; 1988, c. 501; 1991, cc. 534, 715; 1992, c. 886; 1996, c.\n866; 2003, c. 219; 2004, cc. 972, 980; 2007, cc. 745, 923; 2012, c. 637; 2013,\ncc. 761, 774; 2016, cc. 583, 585, 638; 2020, c. 487; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 184,\n529; 2024, cc. 108, 118; 2025, cc. 208, 217, 550, 560.","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}}