{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-411.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-411.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-411.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-411.html"}],"law_id":62952,"edition_id":1,"section_id":62952,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-411","catch_line":"Dispersal of unlawful or riotous assemblies; duties of officers","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 18.1-254.8, 18.1-254.9; 1968, c. 460; 1975, cc. 14, 15.","full_text":"When any number of persons, whether armed or not, are unlawfully or riotously assembled, the sheriff of the county and his deputies, the police officials of the county, city or town, and any assigned militia, or any of them, shall go among the persons assembled or as near to them as safety will permit and command them in the name of the Commonwealth immediately to disperse. If upon such command the persons unlawfully assembled do not disperse immediately, such sheriff, officer or militia may use such force as is reasonably necessary to disperse them and to arrest those who fail or refuse to disperse. To accomplish this end, the sheriff or other law-enforcement officer may request and use the assistance and services of private citizens. Every endeavor shall be used, both by such sheriff or other officers and by the officer commanding any other force, which can be made consistently with the preservation of life, to induce or force those unlawfully assembled to disperse before an attack is made upon those unlawfully assembled by which their lives may be endangered.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":229632,"text":"When any number of persons, whether armed or not, are unlawfully or riotously assembled, the sheriff of the county and his deputies, the police officials of the county, city or town, and any assigned militia, or any of them, shall go among the persons assembled or as near to them as safety will permit and command them in the name of the Commonwealth immediately to disperse. If upon such command the persons unlawfully assembled do not disperse immediately, such sheriff, officer or militia may use such force as is reasonably necessary to disperse them and to arrest those who fail or refuse to disperse. To accomplish this end, the sheriff or other law-enforcement officer may request and use the assistance and services of private citizens. Every endeavor shall be used, both by such sheriff or other officers and by the officer commanding any other force, which can be made consistently with the preservation of life, to induce or force those unlawfully assembled to disperse before an attack is made upon those unlawfully assembled by which their lives may be endangered.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15343,"edition_id":1,"name":"Riot and Unlawful Assembly","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14570,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:54:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:54:05","permalink":{"id":167997,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15343,"identifier":"1","token":"18.2\/9\/1","url":"\/18.2\/9\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14570,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against Peace and Order","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:42","permalink":{"id":167995,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14570,"identifier":"9","token":"18.2\/9","url":"\/18.2\/9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":58390,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-404","catch_line":"Obstructing free passage of others","url":"\/18.2-404\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-404","metadata":false},{"id":66562,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-405","catch_line":"What constitutes a riot; punishment","url":"\/18.2-405\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-405","metadata":false},{"id":83452,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-406","catch_line":"What constitutes an unlawful assembly; punishment","url":"\/18.2-406\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-406","metadata":false},{"id":60408,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-407","catch_line":"Remaining at place of riot or unlawful assembly after warning to disperse","url":"\/18.2-407\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-407","metadata":false},{"id":79023,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-408","catch_line":"Conspiracy; incitement, etc., to riot","url":"\/18.2-408\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-408","metadata":false},{"id":67634,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-409","catch_line":"Resisting or obstructing execution of legal process","url":"\/18.2-409\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-409","metadata":false},{"id":83908,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-410","catch_line":"Power of Governor to summon law-enforcement agencies, national guard, etc., to execute process or preserve the peace","url":"\/18.2-410\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-410","metadata":false},{"id":62952,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-411","catch_line":"Dispersal of unlawful or riotous assemblies; duties of officers","url":"\/18.2-411\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-411","metadata":false},{"id":65439,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-412","catch_line":"Immunity of officers and others in quelling a riot or unlawful assembly","url":"\/18.2-412\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-412","metadata":false},{"id":86638,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-413","catch_line":"Commission of certain offenses in county, city or town declared by Governor to be in state of riot or insurrection","url":"\/18.2-413\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-413","metadata":false},{"id":82336,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-414","catch_line":"Injury to property or persons by persons unlawfully or riotously assembled","url":"\/18.2-414\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-414","metadata":false},{"id":61232,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-414.1","catch_line":"Obstructing emergency medical services agency personnel in performance of mission; penalty","url":"\/18.2-414.1\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-414.1","metadata":false},{"id":71247,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-414.2","catch_line":"Crossing established police lines, perimeters or barricades","url":"\/18.2-414.2\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-414.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":83908,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-410","catch_line":"Power of Governor to summon law-enforcement agencies, national guard, etc., to execute process or preserve the peace","url":"\/18.2-410\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-410","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":65439,"structure_id":15343,"section_number":"18.2-412","catch_line":"Immunity of officers and others in quelling a riot or unlawful assembly","url":"\/18.2-412\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-412","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-411\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 1968, chapter 460; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":168027,"object_type":"law","relational_id":62952,"identifier":"18.2-411","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-411","url":"\/18.2-411\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-411\/","token":"18.2\/9\/1\/18.2-411","dublin_core":{"Title":"Dispersal of unlawful or riotous assemblies; duties of officers","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-411","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>When any number of persons, whether armed or not, are unlawfully or riotously assembled, the sheriff of the county and his deputies, the police officials of the county, city or town, and any assigned militia, or any of them, shall go among the persons assembled or as near to them as safety will permit and command them in the name of the Commonwealth immediately to disperse. If upon such command the persons unlawfully assembled do not disperse immediately, such sheriff, officer or militia may use such force as is reasonably necessary to disperse them and to <span class=\"dictionary\">arrest<\/span> those who fail or refuse to disperse. To accomplish this end, the sheriff or other <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>-enforcement officer may request and use the assistance and services of private citizens. Every endeavor shall be used, both by such sheriff or other officers and by the officer commanding any other force, which can be made consistently with the preservation of life, to induce or force those unlawfully assembled to disperse before an attack is made upon those unlawfully assembled by which their lives may be endangered.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDISPERSAL OF UNLAWFUL OR RIOTOUS ASSEMBLIES; DUTIES OF OFFICERS (\u00a7 18.2-411)\n\nWhen any number of persons, whether armed or not, are unlawfully or riotously\nassembled, the sheriff of the county and his deputies, the police officials of\nthe county, city or town, and any assigned militia, or any of them, shall go\namong the persons assembled or as near to them as safety will permit and command\nthem in the name of the Commonwealth immediately to disperse. If upon such\ncommand the persons unlawfully assembled do not disperse immediately, such\nsheriff, officer or militia may use such force as is reasonably necessary to\ndisperse them and to arrest those who fail or refuse to disperse. To accomplish\nthis end, the sheriff or other law-enforcement officer may request and use the\nassistance and services of private citizens. Every endeavor shall be used, both\nby such sheriff or other officers and by the officer commanding any other force,\nwhich can be made consistently with the preservation of life, to induce or force\nthose unlawfully assembled to disperse before an attack is made upon those\nunlawfully assembled by which their lives may be endangered.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 18.1-254.8, 18.1-254.9; 1968, c. 460; 1975, cc. 14, 15.","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}}