{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-152.4_3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-152.4_3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-152.4_3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-152.4_3.html"}],"law_id":58775,"edition_id":1,"section_id":58775,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.4:3","catch_line":"Duties and responsibilities of local pretrial services officers","history":"2003, c. 603; 2007, c. 133; 2008, cc. 551, 691; 2019, c. 288; 2022, c. 327.","full_text":"A\n\nEach local pretrial services officer, for the jurisdictions served, shall:1\n\nInvestigate and interview defendants arrested on state and local warrants and who are detained in jails located in jurisdictions served by the agency while awaiting a hearing before any court that is considering or reconsidering bail, at initial appearance, advisement or arraignment, or at other subsequent hearings;2\n\nPresent a pretrial investigation report with recommendations to assist courts in discharging their duties related to granting or reconsidering bail;3\n\nSupervise and assist all defendants residing within the jurisdictions served and placed on pretrial supervision by any judicial officer within the jurisdictions to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of bail;4\n\nConduct random drug and alcohol tests on any defendant under supervision for whom a judicial officer has ordered testing or who has been required to refrain from excessive use of alcohol or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance or other defendant-specific condition of bail related to alcohol or substance abuse;5\n\nSeek a capias from any judicial officer pursuant to § 19.2-152.4:1 for any defendant placed under supervision or the custody of the agency who fails to comply with the conditions of bail or supervision, when continued liberty or noncompliance presents a risk of flight, a risk to public safety or risk to the defendant;6\n\nSeek an order to show cause why the defendant should not be required to appear before the court in those cases requiring a subsequent hearing before the court;7\n\nProvide defendant-based information to assist any law-enforcement officer with the return to custody of defendants placed on supervision for which a capias has been sought; and8\n\nKeep such records and make such reports as required by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.B\n\nEach local pretrial services officer, for the jurisdictions served, may provide the following optional services, as appropriate and when available resources permit:1\n\nConduct, subject to court approval, drug and alcohol screenings, or tests at investigation pursuant to subsection B of § 19.2-123 or following release to supervision, and conduct or facilitate the preparation of screenings or assessments or both pursuant to state approved protocols;2\n\nFacilitate placement of defendants in a substance abuse education or treatment program or services or other education or treatment service, including referral to screening for participation in a behavioral health docket that has been established in accordance with § 18.2-254.3 as a treatment service, when ordered as a condition of bail;3\n\nSign for the custody of any defendant investigated by a pretrial services officer, and released by a court to pretrial supervision as the sole term and condition of bail or when combined with an unsecured bond;4\n\nProvide defendant information and investigation services for those who are detained in jails located in jurisdictions served by the agency and are awaiting an initial bail hearing before a magistrate;5\n\nSupervise defendants placed by any judicial officer on home electronic monitoring as a condition of bail and supervision;6\n\nPrepare, for defendants investigated, the financial statement-eligibility determination form for indigent defense services; and7\n\nSubject to approved procedures and if so requested by the court, coordinate for defendants investigated, services for court-appointed counsel and for interpreters for foreign-language speaking and deaf or hard of hearing defendants.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":215369,"text":"Each local pretrial services officer, for the jurisdictions served, shall:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":215370,"text":"Investigate and interview defendants arrested on state and local warrants and who are detained in jails located in jurisdictions served by the agency while awaiting a hearing before any court that is considering or reconsidering bail, at initial appearance, advisement or arraignment, or at other subsequent hearings;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":215371,"text":"Present a pretrial investigation report with recommendations to assist courts in discharging their duties related to granting or reconsidering bail;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":215372,"text":"Supervise and assist all defendants residing within the jurisdictions served and placed on pretrial supervision by any judicial officer within the jurisdictions to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of bail;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":215373,"text":"Conduct random drug and alcohol tests on any defendant under supervision for whom a judicial officer has ordered testing or who has been required to refrain from excessive use of alcohol or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance or other defendant-specific condition of bail related to alcohol or substance abuse;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":215374,"text":"Seek a capias from any judicial officer pursuant to § 19.2-152.4:1 for any defendant placed under supervision or the custody of the agency who fails to comply with the conditions of bail or supervision, when continued liberty or noncompliance presents a risk of flight, a risk to public safety or risk to the defendant;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":215375,"text":"Seek an order to show cause why the defendant should not be required to appear before the court in those cases requiring a subsequent hearing before the court;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"A7"},"7":{"id":215376,"text":"Provide defendant-based information to assist any law-enforcement officer with the return to custody of defendants placed on supervision for which a capias has been sought; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"A7","prefix_anchor":"A7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"A8"},"8":{"id":215377,"text":"Keep such records and make such reports as required by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"A8","prefix_anchor":"A8","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A7","next_prefix":"B"},"9":{"id":215378,"text":"Each local pretrial services officer, for the jurisdictions served, may provide the following optional services, as appropriate and when available resources permit:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A8","next_prefix":"B1"},"10":{"id":215379,"text":"Conduct, subject to court approval, drug and alcohol screenings, or tests at investigation pursuant to subsection B of § 19.2-123 or following release to supervision, and conduct or facilitate the preparation of screenings or assessments or both pursuant to state approved protocols;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"11":{"id":215380,"text":"Facilitate placement of defendants in a substance abuse education or treatment program or services or other education or treatment service, including referral to screening for participation in a behavioral health docket that has been established in accordance with § 18.2-254.3 as a treatment service, when ordered as a condition of bail;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"12":{"id":215381,"text":"Sign for the custody of any defendant investigated by a pretrial services officer, and released by a court to pretrial supervision as the sole term and condition of bail or when combined with an unsecured bond;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"13":{"id":215382,"text":"Provide defendant information and investigation services for those who are detained in jails located in jurisdictions served by the agency and are awaiting an initial bail hearing before a magistrate;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"14":{"id":215383,"text":"Supervise defendants placed by any judicial officer on home electronic monitoring as a condition of bail and supervision;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"15":{"id":215384,"text":"Prepare, for defendants investigated, the financial statement-eligibility determination form for indigent defense services; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"B7"},"16":{"id":215385,"text":"Subject to approved procedures and if so requested by the court, coordinate for defendants investigated, services for court-appointed counsel and for interpreters for foreign-language speaking and deaf or hard of hearing defendants.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"B7","prefix_anchor":"B7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B6"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13933,"edition_id":1,"name":"Pretrial Services Act","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12917,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:20","permalink":{"id":171363,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13933,"identifier":"5","token":"19.2\/9\/5","url":"\/19.2\/9\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12917,"edition_id":1,"name":"Bail and Recognizances","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12801,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:01","permalink":{"id":171209,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12917,"identifier":"9","token":"19.2\/9","url":"\/19.2\/9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12801,"edition_id":1,"name":"Criminal Procedure","identifier":"19.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":168169,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12801,"identifier":"19.2","token":"19.2","url":"\/19.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":59283,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.2","catch_line":"Purpose; establishment of pretrial services and services agencies","url":"\/19.2-152.2\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.2","metadata":false},{"id":83709,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.3","catch_line":"Department of Criminal Justice Services to prescribe standards; biennial plan","url":"\/19.2-152.3\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.3","metadata":false},{"id":73921,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.4","catch_line":"Mandated services","url":"\/19.2-152.4\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.4","metadata":false},{"id":78184,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.4:1","catch_line":"Form of oath of office for local pretrial services officer; authorization to seek capias","url":"\/19.2-152.4_1\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":59593,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.4:2","catch_line":"Confidentiality of records of and reports on adult persons under investigation by or in the custody or supervision of a local pretrial services agency","url":"\/19.2-152.4_2\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.4_2","metadata":false},{"id":58775,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.4:3","catch_line":"Duties and responsibilities of local pretrial services officers","url":"\/19.2-152.4_3\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.4_3","metadata":false},{"id":56669,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.5","catch_line":"Community criminal justice boards","url":"\/19.2-152.5\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.5","metadata":false},{"id":74521,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.6","catch_line":"Withdrawal from pretrial services","url":"\/19.2-152.6\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.6","metadata":false},{"id":54988,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.7","catch_line":"Funding; failure to comply","url":"\/19.2-152.7\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.7","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":59593,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.4:2","catch_line":"Confidentiality of records of and reports on adult persons under investigation by or in the custody or supervision of a local pretrial services agency","url":"\/19.2-152.4_2\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.4_2","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":56669,"structure_id":13933,"section_number":"19.2-152.5","catch_line":"Community criminal justice boards","url":"\/19.2-152.5\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.5","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-152.4:3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2003. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 603<\/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 4 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 2007, chapter 133<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 551<\/a> and 691<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 288<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 327<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":69159,"section_number":"18.2-254.3","catch_line":"Behavioral Health Docket Act","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-254.3\/"},{"id":58592,"section_number":"19.2-123","catch_line":"Release of accused on secured or unsecured bond or promise to appear; conditions of release","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-123\/"},{"id":78184,"section_number":"19.2-152.4:1","catch_line":"Form of oath of office for local pretrial services officer; authorization to seek capias","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-152.4_1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":171385,"object_type":"law","relational_id":58775,"identifier":"19.2-152.4:3","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.4_3","url":"\/19.2-152.4_3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-152.4_3\/","token":"19.2\/9\/5\/19.2-152.4_3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Duties and responsibilities of local pretrial services officers","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-152.4:3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Each local pretrial services<\/span> officer, for the jurisdictions<\/span> served, shall: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Investigate and interview defendants<\/span> arrested on state and local warrants and who are detained in jails located in jurisdictions<\/span> served by the agency while awaiting a hearing<\/span> before any court<\/span> that is considering or reconsidering bail<\/span>, at initial appearance<\/span>, advisement or arraignment<\/span>, or at other subsequent hearings<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Present a pretrial investigation report with recommendations to assist courts<\/span> in discharging their duties related to granting or reconsidering bail<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Supervise and assist all defendants<\/span> residing within the jurisdictions<\/span> served and placed on pretrial supervision by any judicial officer within the jurisdictions<\/span> to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of bail<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Conduct random drug and alcohol tests on any defendant<\/span> under supervision for whom a judicial officer has ordered testing or who has been required to refrain from excessive use of alcohol or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance or other defendant<\/span>-specific condition of bail<\/span> related to alcohol or substance abuse; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Seek a capias<\/span> from any judicial officer pursuant to § 19.2-152.4:1<\/a> for any defendant<\/span> placed under supervision or the custody<\/span> of the agency who fails to comply with the conditions of bail<\/span> or supervision, when continued liberty or noncompliance presents a risk of flight, a risk to public safety or risk to the defendant<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Seek an order<\/span> to show cause why the defendant<\/span> should not be required to appear before the court<\/span> in those cases requiring a subsequent hearing<\/span> before the court<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Provide defendant<\/span>-based information to assist any law<\/span>-enforcement officer with the return to custody<\/span> of defendants<\/span> placed on supervision for which a capias<\/span> has been sought; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Keep such records and make such reports as required by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Each local pretrial services<\/span> officer, for the jurisdictions<\/span> served, may provide the following optional services, as appropriate and when available resources permit: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Conduct, subject to court<\/span> approval, drug and alcohol screenings, or tests at investigation pursuant to subsection B of § 19.2-123<\/a> or following release to supervision, and conduct or facilitate the preparation of screenings or assessments or both pursuant to state approved protocols; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Facilitate placement of defendants<\/span> in a substance abuse education or treatment program or services or other education or treatment service, including referral to screening for participation in a behavioral health docket<\/span> that has been established in accordance with § 18.2-254.3<\/a> as a treatment service, when ordered as a condition of bail<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Sign for the custody<\/span> of any defendant<\/span> investigated by a pretrial services<\/span> officer, and released by a court<\/span> to pretrial supervision as the sole term and condition of bail<\/span> or when combined with an unsecured bond<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Provide defendant<\/span> information and investigation services for those who are detained in jails located in jurisdictions<\/span> served by the agency and are awaiting an initial bail<\/span> hearing<\/span> before a magistrate<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Supervise defendants<\/span> placed by any judicial officer on home electronic monitoring as a condition of bail<\/span> and supervision; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Prepare, for defendants<\/span> investigated, the financial statement-eligibility determination form for indigent<\/span> defense services; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Subject to approved procedures and if so requested by the court<\/span>, coordinate for defendants<\/span> investigated, services for court<\/span>-appointed counsel<\/span> and for interpreters for foreign-language speaking and deaf or hard of hearing<\/span> defendants<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL PRETRIAL SERVICES OFFICERS (\u00a7\n19.2-152.4:3)\n\nA. Each local pretrial services officer, for the jurisdictions served, shall:\n\n 1. Investigate and interview defendants arrested on state and local warrants\n and who are detained in jails located in jurisdictions served by the agency\n while awaiting a hearing before any court that is considering or reconsidering\n bail, at initial appearance, advisement or arraignment, or at other subsequent\n hearings;\n\n 2. Present a pretrial investigation report with recommendations to assist\n courts in discharging their duties related to granting or reconsidering bail;\n\n 3. Supervise and assist all defendants residing within the jurisdictions\n served and placed on pretrial supervision by any judicial officer within the\n jurisdictions to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of bail;\n\n 4. Conduct random drug and alcohol tests on any defendant under supervision\n for whom a judicial officer has ordered testing or who has been required to\n refrain from excessive use of alcohol or use of any illegal drug or controlled\n substance or other defendant-specific condition of bail related to alcohol or\n substance abuse;\n\n 5. Seek a capias from any judicial officer pursuant to § 19.2-152.4:1 for\n any defendant placed under supervision or the custody of the agency who fails\n to comply with the conditions of bail or supervision, when continued liberty\n or noncompliance presents a risk of flight, a risk to public safety or risk to\n the defendant;\n\n 6. Seek an order to show cause why the defendant should not be required to\n appear before the court in those cases requiring a subsequent hearing before\n the court;\n\n 7. Provide defendant-based information to assist any law-enforcement officer\n with the return to custody of defendants placed on supervision for which a\n capias has been sought; and\n\n 8. Keep such records and make such reports as required by the Commonwealth of\n Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.\n\nB. Each local pretrial services officer, for the jurisdictions served, may\nprovide the following optional services, as appropriate and when available\nresources permit:\n\n 1. Conduct, subject to court approval, drug and alcohol screenings, or tests\n at investigation pursuant to subsection B of § 19.2-123 or following\n release to supervision, and conduct or facilitate the preparation of\n screenings or assessments or both pursuant to state approved protocols;\n\n 2. Facilitate placement of defendants in a substance abuse education or\n treatment program or services or other education or treatment service,\n including referral to screening for participation in a behavioral health\n docket that has been established in accordance with § 18.2-254.3 as a\n treatment service, when ordered as a condition of bail;\n\n 3. Sign for the custody of any defendant investigated by a pretrial services\n officer, and released by a court to pretrial supervision as the sole term and\n condition of bail or when combined with an unsecured bond;\n\n 4. Provide defendant information and investigation services for those who are\n detained in jails located in jurisdictions served by the agency and are\n awaiting an initial bail hearing before a magistrate;\n\n 5. Supervise defendants placed by any judicial officer on home electronic\n monitoring as a condition of bail and supervision;\n\n 6. Prepare, for defendants investigated, the financial statement-eligibility\n determination form for indigent defense services; and\n\n 7. Subject to approved procedures and if so requested by the court, coordinate\n for defendants investigated, services for court-appointed counsel and for\n interpreters for foreign-language speaking and deaf or hard of hearing\n defendants.\n\nHISTORY: 2003, c. 603; 2007, c. 133; 2008, cc. 551, 691; 2019, c. 288; 2022, c.\n327.","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}}