{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-60.4.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-60.4.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-60.4.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-60.4.html"}],"law_id":86834,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86834,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.4","catch_line":"Violation of protective orders; penalty","history":"1998, c. 569; 2003, c. 219; 2011, cc. 445, 480; 2013, cc. 761, 774; 2016, cc. 583, 585, 638; 2020, cc. 487, 1005; 2024, cc. 108, 118; 2025, cc. 208, 217.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person who violates any provision of a protective order issued pursuant to § 19.2-152.8, 19.2-152.9, or 19.2-152.10 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Conviction hereunder shall bar a finding of contempt for the same act. The punishment for any person convicted of a second offense of violating a protective order, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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 § 19.2-152.8, 19.2-152.9, or 19.2-152.10, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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.E\n\nUpon conviction, the court shall, in addition to the sentence imposed, enter a protective order pursuant to § 19.2-152.10 for a specified period not exceeding two years from the date of conviction.F\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.G\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":310916,"text":"Any person who violates any provision of a protective order issued pursuant to § 19.2-152.8, 19.2-152.9, or 19.2-152.10 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Conviction hereunder shall bar a finding of contempt for the same act. The punishment for any person convicted of a second offense of violating a protective order, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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":310917,"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 § 19.2-152.8, 19.2-152.9, or 19.2-152.10, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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":310918,"text":"If the respondent commits an assault and battery upon any party protected by the protective order, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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":310919,"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":310920,"text":"Upon conviction, the court shall, in addition to the sentence imposed, enter a protective order pursuant to § 19.2-152.10 for a specified period not exceeding two years from the date of conviction.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":310921,"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":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":310922,"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":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13516,"edition_id":1,"name":"Extortion and Other Threats","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13100,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:07","permalink":{"id":165091,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13516,"identifier":"6","token":"18.2\/4\/6","url":"\/18.2\/4\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13100,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Against the Person","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","permalink":{"id":164763,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13100,"identifier":"4","token":"18.2\/4","url":"\/18.2\/4\/","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":72142,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-59","catch_line":"Extortion of money, property or pecuniary benefit","url":"\/18.2-59\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-59","metadata":false},{"id":59217,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-59.1","catch_line":"Sexual extortion; penalty","url":"\/18.2-59.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-59.1","metadata":false},{"id":70858,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60","catch_line":"Threats of death or bodily injury to a person or member of his family; threats of death or discharge of a firearm on school property; threats of death or bodily injury to health care providers; penalties","url":"\/18.2-60\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60","metadata":false},{"id":66281,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.1","catch_line":"Threatening the Governor or his immediate family","url":"\/18.2-60.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.1","metadata":false},{"id":62513,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.2","catch_line":"Members of the Governor's immediate family","url":"\/18.2-60.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.2","metadata":false},{"id":54485,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.3","catch_line":"Stalking; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.3\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.3","metadata":false},{"id":86834,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.4","catch_line":"Violation of protective orders; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.4\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.4","metadata":false},{"id":68255,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.5","catch_line":"Unauthorized use of electronic tracking device; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.5\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.5","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":54485,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.3","catch_line":"Stalking; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.3\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.3","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68255,"structure_id":13516,"section_number":"18.2-60.5","catch_line":"Unauthorized use of electronic tracking device; penalty","url":"\/18.2-60.5\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.5","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-60.4\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1998. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 569<\/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 7 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 2003, chapter 219<\/a>; in 2011, chapters 445<\/a> and 480<\/a>; in 2013, chapters 761<\/a> and 774<\/a>; in 2016, chapters 583<\/a>, 585<\/a>, and 638<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 487<\/a> and 1005<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 108<\/a> and 118<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 208<\/a> and 217<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79702,"section_number":"16.1-106","catch_line":"Appeals from courts not of record in civil cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-106\/"},{"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":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":54485,"section_number":"18.2-60.3","catch_line":"Stalking; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-60.3\/"},{"id":83461,"section_number":"19.2-152.10","catch_line":"Protective order","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-152.10\/"},{"id":67602,"section_number":"19.2-152.8","catch_line":"Emergency protective orders authorized","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-152.8\/"},{"id":57556,"section_number":"19.2-152.9","catch_line":"Preliminary protective orders","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-152.9\/"}],"permalink":{"id":165117,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86834,"identifier":"18.2-60.4","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.4","url":"\/18.2-60.4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-60.4\/","token":"18.2\/4\/6\/18.2-60.4","dublin_core":{"Title":"Violation of protective orders; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-60.4","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person who violates any provision of a protective order<\/span> issued pursuant to § 19.2-152.8<\/a>, 19.2-152.9<\/a>, or 19.2-152.10<\/a> is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. Conviction<\/span> hereunder shall bar a finding<\/span> of contempt<\/span> for the same act. The punishment for any person convicted of a second offense<\/span> of violating a protective order<\/span>, other than a protective order<\/span> issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10<\/a>, 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>, other than a protective order<\/span> issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10<\/a>, 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 § 19.2-152.8<\/a>, 19.2-152.9<\/a>, or 19.2-152.10<\/a>, other than a protective order<\/span> issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10<\/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>, other than a protective order<\/span> issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10<\/a>, 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>, other than a protective order<\/span> issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10<\/a>, 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. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Upon conviction<\/span>, the court<\/span> shall, in addition to the sentence imposed, enter a protective order<\/span> pursuant to § 19.2-152.10<\/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

F.<\/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

G.<\/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<\/span>-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 PROTECTIVE ORDERS; PENALTY (\u00a7 18.2-60.4)\n\nA. Any person who violates any provision of a protective order issued pursuant\nto § 19.2-152.8, 19.2-152.9, or 19.2-152.10 is guilty of a Class 1\nmisdemeanor. Conviction hereunder shall bar a finding of contempt for the same\nact. The punishment for any person convicted of a second offense of violating a\nprotective order, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C\nof § 19.2-152.10, when the offense is committed within five years of the\nprior conviction and when either the instant or prior offense was based on an\nact or threat of violence, shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement\nof 60 days. Any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense of violating a\nprotective order, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C\nof § 19.2-152.10, when the offense is committed within 20 years of the\nfirst conviction and when either the instant or one of the prior offenses was\nbased 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 §\n19.2-152.8, 19.2-152.9, or 19.2-152.10, other than a protective order issued\npursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10, 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, other than a protective order issued pursuant to\nsubsection C of § 19.2-152.10, resulting in bodily injury to the party or\nstalks any party protected by the protective order in violation of §\n18.2-60.3, he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Any person who violates such a\nprotective order, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C\nof § 19.2-152.10, by furtively entering the home of any protected party\nwhile the party is present, or by entering and remaining in the home of the\nprotected party until the party arrives, is guilty of a Class 6 felony, in\naddition to any other penalty provided 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.\n\nE. Upon conviction, the court shall, in addition to the sentence imposed, enter\na protective order pursuant to § 19.2-152.10 for a specified period not\nexceeding two years from the date of conviction.\n\nF. 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\nG. 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: 1998, c. 569; 2003, c. 219; 2011, cc. 445, 480; 2013, cc. 761, 774;\n2016, cc. 583, 585, 638; 2020, cc. 487, 1005; 2024, cc. 108, 118; 2025, cc. 208,\n217.","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}}