{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-67.8.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-67.8.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-67.8.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-67.8.html"}],"law_id":71989,"edition_id":1,"section_id":71989,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.8","catch_line":"Closed preliminary hearings","history":"1981, c. 397; 1993, c. 440.","full_text":"In preliminary hearings for offenses charged under this article or under \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-361, 18.2-366, 18.2-370 or \u00a7 18.2-370.1, the court may, on its own motion or at the request of the Commonwealth, the complaining witness, the accused, or their counsel, exclude from the courtroom all persons except officers of the court and persons whose presence, in the judgment of the court, would be supportive of the complaining witness or the accused and would not impair the conduct of a fair hearing.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":259394,"text":"In preliminary hearings for offenses charged under this article or under \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-361, 18.2-366, 18.2-370 or \u00a7 18.2-370.1, the court may, on its own motion or at the request of the Commonwealth, the complaining witness, the accused, or their counsel, exclude from the courtroom all persons except officers of the court and persons whose presence, in the judgment of the court, would be supportive of the complaining witness or the accused and would not impair the conduct of a fair hearing.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13101,"edition_id":1,"name":"Criminal Sexual Assault","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13100,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","permalink":{"id":165125,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13101,"identifier":"7","token":"18.2\/4\/7","url":"\/18.2\/4\/7\/","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":75662,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-61","catch_line":"Rape","url":"\/18.2-61\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-61","metadata":false},{"id":78807,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-61.1","catch_line":"Testing of certain persons for sexually transmitted infections","url":"\/18.2-61.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-61.1","metadata":false},{"id":67245,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-62","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-62\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-62","metadata":false},{"id":76651,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-63","catch_line":"Carnal knowledge of child between thirteen and fifteen years of age","url":"\/18.2-63\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-63","metadata":false},{"id":54142,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-63.1","catch_line":"Death of victim","url":"\/18.2-63.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-63.1","metadata":false},{"id":61006,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-64","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-64\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-64","metadata":false},{"id":67558,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-64.1","catch_line":"Carnal knowledge of certain minors","url":"\/18.2-64.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-64.1","metadata":false},{"id":77968,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-64.2","catch_line":"Carnal knowledge of a person detained or arrested by a law-enforcement officer or an inmate, parolee, probationer, juvenile detainee, pretrial defendant or posttrial offender, or confidential informant; penalty","url":"\/18.2-64.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-64.2","metadata":false},{"id":75020,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-65","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-65\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-65","metadata":false},{"id":86699,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-66","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-66\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-66","metadata":false},{"id":76985,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67","catch_line":"Depositions of complaining witnesses in cases of criminal sexual assault and attempted criminal sexual assault","url":"\/18.2-67\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67","metadata":false},{"id":61201,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.01","catch_line":"Not in effect","url":"\/18.2-67.01\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.01","metadata":false},{"id":73623,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.1","catch_line":"Forcible sodomy","url":"\/18.2-67.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.1","metadata":false},{"id":77985,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.10","catch_line":"General definitions","url":"\/18.2-67.10\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.10","metadata":false},{"id":73072,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.2","catch_line":"Object sexual penetration; penalty","url":"\/18.2-67.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.2","metadata":false},{"id":83215,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.2:1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-67.2_1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":85126,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.3","catch_line":"Aggravated sexual battery; penalty","url":"\/18.2-67.3\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.3","metadata":false},{"id":67699,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.4","catch_line":"Sexual battery","url":"\/18.2-67.4\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.4","metadata":false},{"id":64369,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.4:1","catch_line":"Infected sexual battery; penalty","url":"\/18.2-67.4_1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":70257,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.4:2","catch_line":"Sexual abuse of a child under 15 years of age; penalty","url":"\/18.2-67.4_2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.4_2","metadata":false},{"id":57731,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.5","catch_line":"Attempted rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, aggravated sexual battery, and sexual battery","url":"\/18.2-67.5\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.5","metadata":false},{"id":73718,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.5:1","catch_line":"Punishment upon conviction of third misdemeanor offense","url":"\/18.2-67.5_1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.5_1","metadata":false},{"id":54441,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.5:2","catch_line":"Punishment upon conviction of certain subsequent felony sexual assault","url":"\/18.2-67.5_2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.5_2","metadata":false},{"id":68571,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.5:3","catch_line":"Punishment upon conviction of certain subsequent violent felony sexual assault","url":"\/18.2-67.5_3\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.5_3","metadata":false},{"id":86022,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.6","catch_line":"Proof of physical resistance not required","url":"\/18.2-67.6\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.6","metadata":false},{"id":78575,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.7","catch_line":"Admission of evidence (Supreme Court Rule 2:412 derived from this section)","url":"\/18.2-67.7\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.7","metadata":false},{"id":71168,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.7:1","catch_line":"Evidence of similar crimes in child sexual offense cases (Supreme Court Rule 2:413 derived from this section)","url":"\/18.2-67.7_1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.7_1","metadata":false},{"id":71989,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.8","catch_line":"Closed preliminary hearings","url":"\/18.2-67.8\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.8","metadata":false},{"id":83206,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.9","catch_line":"Testimony by child victims and witnesses using two-way closed-circuit television or other securely encrypted two-way audio and video technology","url":"\/18.2-67.9\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.9","metadata":false},{"id":57944,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.9:1","catch_line":"Use of a certified facility dog for testimony in a criminal proceeding","url":"\/18.2-67.9_1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.9_1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":71168,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.7:1","catch_line":"Evidence of similar crimes in child sexual offense cases (Supreme Court Rule 2:413 derived from this section)","url":"\/18.2-67.7_1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.7_1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":83206,"structure_id":13101,"section_number":"18.2-67.9","catch_line":"Testimony by child victims and witnesses using two-way closed-circuit television or other securely encrypted two-way audio and video technology","url":"\/18.2-67.9\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.9","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-67.8\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1981. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 397 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 1981 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. 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 1993, chapter 440.<\/p>","references":[{"id":56192,"section_number":"19.2-11.01","catch_line":"Crime victim and witness rights","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-11.01\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":55287,"section_number":"18.2-361","catch_line":"Crimes against nature; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-361\/"},{"id":76153,"section_number":"18.2-366","catch_line":"Sexual intercourse by persons forbidden to marry; incest; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-366\/"},{"id":60265,"section_number":"18.2-370","catch_line":"Taking indecent liberties with children; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-370\/"},{"id":80307,"section_number":"18.2-370.1","catch_line":"Taking indecent liberties with child by person in custodial or supervisory relationship; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-370.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":165235,"object_type":"law","relational_id":71989,"identifier":"18.2-67.8","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.8","url":"\/18.2-67.8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-67.8\/","token":"18.2\/4\/7\/18.2-67.8","dublin_core":{"Title":"Closed preliminary hearings","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-67.8","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>In <span class=\"dictionary\">preliminary hearings<\/span> for <span class=\"dictionary\">offenses<\/span> charged under this article or under \u00a7\u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Crimes against nature; penalty\" href=\"\/18.2-361\/\">18.2-361<\/a>, <a class=\"law\" title=\"Sexual intercourse by persons forbidden to marry; incest; penalties\" href=\"\/18.2-366\/\">18.2-366<\/a>, <a class=\"law\" title=\"Taking indecent liberties with children; penalties\" href=\"\/18.2-370\/\">18.2-370<\/a> or \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Taking indecent liberties with child by person in custodial or supervisory relationship; penalties\" href=\"\/18.2-370.1\/\">18.2-370.1<\/a>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> may, on its own <span class=\"dictionary\">motion<\/span> or at the request of the Commonwealth, the <span class=\"dictionary\">complaining witness<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">accused<\/span>, or their <span class=\"dictionary\">counsel<\/span>, exclude from the courtroom all persons except officers of the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> and persons whose presence, in the <span class=\"dictionary\">judgment<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>, would be supportive of the <span class=\"dictionary\">complaining witness<\/span> or the <span class=\"dictionary\">accused<\/span> and would not impair the conduct of a fair <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCLOSED PRELIMINARY HEARINGS (\u00a7 18.2-67.8)\n\nIn preliminary hearings for offenses charged under this article or under \u00a7\u00a7\n18.2-361, 18.2-366, 18.2-370 or \u00a7 18.2-370.1, the court may, on its own motion\nor at the request of the Commonwealth, the complaining witness, the accused, or\ntheir counsel, exclude from the courtroom all persons except officers of the\ncourt and persons whose presence, in the judgment of the court, would be\nsupportive of the complaining witness or the accused and would not impair the\nconduct of a fair hearing.\n\nHISTORY: 1981, c. 397; 1993, c. 440.","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}}