{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-269.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-269.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-269.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-269.1.html"}],"law_id":77666,"edition_id":1,"section_id":77666,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-269.1","catch_line":"Inmates as witnesses in criminal cases","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 8-300; 1966, c. 227; 1974, cc. 44, 45; 1977, c. 624; 2002, cc. 515, 544.","full_text":"Whenever the Commonwealth or a defendant in a criminal prosecution in any circuit court in this Commonwealth requires as a witness in his behalf, an inmate in a state or local correctional facility as defined in \u00a7 53.1-1, the court, on the application of such defendant or his attorney, or the attorney for the Commonwealth, shall issue an order to the Director of the Department of Corrections to deliver such witness to the sheriff of the jurisdiction of the court issuing the order. If authorized by the court, the clerk of the circuit court or a deputy clerk may issue these orders on behalf of the court. The sheriff shall go where such witness may then be and carry him to the court to testify as such witness, and after he has testified and been released as such witness, carry him back to the place whence he came, for all of which service the sheriff shall be paid out of the criminal expense funds in the state treasury such compensation as the court in which the case is pending may certify to be reasonable.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":278590,"text":"Whenever the Commonwealth or a defendant in a criminal prosecution in any circuit court in this Commonwealth requires as a witness in his behalf, an inmate in a state or local correctional facility as defined in \u00a7 53.1-1, the court, on the application of such defendant or his attorney, or the attorney for the Commonwealth, shall issue an order to the Director of the Department of Corrections to deliver such witness to the sheriff of the jurisdiction of the court issuing the order. If authorized by the court, the clerk of the circuit court or a deputy clerk may issue these orders on behalf of the court. The sheriff shall go where such witness may then be and carry him to the court to testify as such witness, and after he has testified and been released as such witness, carry him back to the place whence he came, for all of which service the sheriff shall be paid out of the criminal expense funds in the state treasury such compensation as the court in which the case is pending may certify to be reasonable.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12962,"edition_id":1,"name":"In General","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12961,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","permalink":{"id":169213,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12962,"identifier":"1","token":"19.2\/16\/1","url":"\/19.2\/16\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12961,"edition_id":1,"name":"Evidence and Witnesses","identifier":"16","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12801,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","permalink":{"id":169211,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12961,"identifier":"16","token":"19.2\/16","url":"\/19.2\/16\/","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":70616,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-267","catch_line":"Provisions applicable to witnesses in criminal as well as civil cases; obligation to attend; summons","url":"\/19.2-267\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-267","metadata":false},{"id":80018,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-267.1","catch_line":"Authority of law-enforcement officer to issue summons to witness; failure to appear","url":"\/19.2-267.1\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-267.1","metadata":false},{"id":58922,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-267.2","catch_line":"Response to subpoena for information stored in electronic format","url":"\/19.2-267.2\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-267.2","metadata":false},{"id":83006,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-268","catch_line":"Right of accused to testify","url":"\/19.2-268\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-268","metadata":false},{"id":72787,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-268.1","catch_line":"Contradiction by prior inconsistent writing (Subdivision (b)(i) of Supreme Court Rule 2:613 derived in part from this section)","url":"\/19.2-268.1\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-268.1","metadata":false},{"id":76061,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-268.2","catch_line":"Recent complaint hearsay exception (Subdivision (23) of Supreme Court Rule 2:803 derived from this section)","url":"\/19.2-268.2\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-268.2","metadata":false},{"id":64807,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-268.3","catch_line":"Admissibility of statements by children in certain cases","url":"\/19.2-268.3\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-268.3","metadata":false},{"id":79860,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-269","catch_line":"Convicts as witnesses (Supreme Court Rule 2:609 derived from this section)","url":"\/19.2-269\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-269","metadata":false},{"id":77666,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-269.1","catch_line":"Inmates as witnesses in criminal cases","url":"\/19.2-269.1\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-269.1","metadata":false},{"id":67973,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-269.2","catch_line":"Nondisclosure of addresses or telephone numbers of crime victims and witnesses","url":"\/19.2-269.2\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-269.2","metadata":false},{"id":63323,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270","catch_line":"When statement by accused as witness not received as evidence","url":"\/19.2-270\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270","metadata":false},{"id":86326,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270.1","catch_line":"Use of photographs as evidence in certain larceny and burglary prosecutions","url":"\/19.2-270.1\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.1","metadata":false},{"id":86031,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270.1:1","catch_line":"Computer and electronic data in obscenity, etc. cases; access to defendant","url":"\/19.2-270.1_1\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":54053,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270.2","catch_line":"Disposition of money, securities or documents seized upon arrest, etc., and pertinent as evidence","url":"\/19.2-270.2\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.2","metadata":false},{"id":79537,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270.3","catch_line":"Admissible evidence as to identity of party presenting bad check, draft or order","url":"\/19.2-270.3\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.3","metadata":false},{"id":59185,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270.4","catch_line":"When donation, destruction, or return of exhibits received in evidence authorized","url":"\/19.2-270.4\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.4","metadata":false},{"id":58746,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270.4:1","catch_line":"Storage, preservation and retention of human biological evidence in felony cases","url":"\/19.2-270.4_1\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":73612,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270.5","catch_line":"DNA profile admissible in criminal proceeding","url":"\/19.2-270.5\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.5","metadata":false},{"id":78047,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270.6","catch_line":"Evidence of abuse admissible in certain criminal trials (Supreme Court Rule 2:409 derived from this section)","url":"\/19.2-270.6\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.6","metadata":false},{"id":58400,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270.7","catch_line":"Determining decibel level of sound with proper equipment; certificate as to accuracy of equipment","url":"\/19.2-270.7\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.7","metadata":false},{"id":82522,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-271","catch_line":"Certain judicial officers incompetent to testify under certain circumstances; exceptions (Supreme Court Rule 2:605 derived from this section)","url":"\/19.2-271\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-271","metadata":false},{"id":74995,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-271.1","catch_line":"Competency of spouses to testify","url":"\/19.2-271.1\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-271.1","metadata":false},{"id":66486,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-271.2","catch_line":"Testimony of spouses in criminal cases (Subsection (b) of Supreme Court Rule 2:504 derived from this section)","url":"\/19.2-271.2\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-271.2","metadata":false},{"id":54753,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-271.3","catch_line":"Communications between ministers of religion and persons they counsel or advise (Supreme Court Rule 2:503 derived in part from this section)","url":"\/19.2-271.3\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-271.3","metadata":false},{"id":74779,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-271.4","catch_line":"Privileged communications by certain public safety personnel","url":"\/19.2-271.4\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-271.4","metadata":false},{"id":55255,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-271.5","catch_line":"Protected information; newspersons engaged in journalism","url":"\/19.2-271.5\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-271.5","metadata":false},{"id":58525,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-271.6","catch_line":"Evidence of defendant's mental condition admissible; notice to Commonwealth","url":"\/19.2-271.6\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-271.6","metadata":false},{"id":63925,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-271.7","catch_line":"Notifying defendant of consequences criminal proceedings can have on immigration","url":"\/19.2-271.7\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-271.7","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":79860,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-269","catch_line":"Convicts as witnesses (Supreme Court Rule 2:609 derived from this section)","url":"\/19.2-269\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-269","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":67973,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-269.2","catch_line":"Nondisclosure of addresses or telephone numbers of crime victims and witnesses","url":"\/19.2-269.2\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-269.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-269.1\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. 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 1966, chapter 227; in 1974, chapters 44 and 45; in 1977, chapter 624; in 2002, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0515\">515<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0544\">544<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":85635,"section_number":"53.1-1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":169247,"object_type":"law","relational_id":77666,"identifier":"19.2-269.1","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-269.1","url":"\/19.2-269.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-269.1\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-269.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Inmates as witnesses in criminal cases","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-269.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Whenever the Commonwealth or a <span class=\"dictionary\">defendant<\/span> in a criminal <span class=\"dictionary\">prosecution<\/span> in any <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> in this Commonwealth requires as a <span class=\"dictionary\">witness<\/span> in his behalf, an inmate in a state or local correctional facility as defined in \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Definitions\" href=\"\/53.1-1\/\">53.1-1<\/a>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>, on the application of such <span class=\"dictionary\">defendant<\/span> or his attorney, or the attorney for the Commonwealth, shall <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span> an <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> to the Director of the Department of Corrections to deliver such <span class=\"dictionary\">witness<\/span> to the sheriff of the <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> issuing the <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span>. If authorized by the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>, the clerk of the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> or a deputy clerk may <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span> these <span class=\"dictionary\">orders<\/span> on behalf of the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>. The sheriff shall go where such <span class=\"dictionary\">witness<\/span> may then be and carry him to the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> to testify as such <span class=\"dictionary\">witness<\/span>, and after he has testified and been released as such <span class=\"dictionary\">witness<\/span>, carry him back to the place whence he came, for all of which service the sheriff shall be paid out of the criminal expense funds in the state treasury such compensation as the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> in which the case is pending may certify to be reasonable.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINMATES AS WITNESSES IN CRIMINAL CASES (\u00a7 19.2-269.1)\n\nWhenever the Commonwealth or a defendant in a criminal prosecution in any\ncircuit court in this Commonwealth requires as a witness in his behalf, an\ninmate in a state or local correctional facility as defined in \u00a7 53.1-1, the\ncourt, on the application of such defendant or his attorney, or the attorney for\nthe Commonwealth, shall issue an order to the Director of the Department of\nCorrections to deliver such witness to the sheriff of the jurisdiction of the\ncourt issuing the order. If authorized by the court, the clerk of the circuit\ncourt or a deputy clerk may issue these orders on behalf of the court. The\nsheriff shall go where such witness may then be and carry him to the court to\ntestify as such witness, and after he has testified and been released as such\nwitness, carry him back to the place whence he came, for all of which service\nthe sheriff shall be paid out of the criminal expense funds in the state\ntreasury such compensation as the court in which the case is pending may certify\nto be reasonable.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 8-300; 1966, c. 227; 1974, cc. 44, 45; 1977, c. 624;\n2002, cc. 515, 544.","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}}