{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-270.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-270.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-270.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-270.1.html"}],"law_id":86326,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86326,"structure_id":12962,"section_number":"19.2-270.1","catch_line":"Use of photographs as evidence in certain larceny and burglary prosecutions","history":"1976, c. 577; 1985, c. 184; 1987, c. 493; 1995, c. 447.","full_text":"In any prosecution for larceny under the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-95, 18.2-96 or \u00a7 18.2-98, or for shoplifting under the provisions of \u00a7 18.2-103, or for burglary under the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-89, 18.2-90, 18.2-91 or \u00a7 18.2-92, photographs of the goods, merchandise, money or securities alleged to have been taken or converted shall be deemed competent evidence of such goods, merchandise, money or securities and shall be admissible in any proceeding, hearing or trial of the case to the same extent as if such goods, merchandise, money or securities had been introduced as evidence. Such photographs shall bear a written description of the goods, merchandise, money or securities alleged to have been taken or converted, the name of the owner of such goods, merchandise, money or securities and the manner of the identification of same by such owner, or the name of the place wherein the alleged offense occurred, the name of the accused, the name of the arresting or investigating police officer or conservator of the peace, the date of the photograph and the name of the photographer. Such writing shall be made under oath by the arresting or investigating police officer or conservator of the peace, and the photographs identified by the signature of the photographer. Upon the filing of such photograph and writing with the police authority or court holding such goods and merchandise as evidence, such goods or merchandise shall be returned to their owner, or the proprietor or manager of the store or establishment wherein the alleged offense occurred.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":309162,"text":"In any prosecution for larceny under the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-95, 18.2-96 or \u00a7 18.2-98, or for shoplifting under the provisions of \u00a7 18.2-103, or for burglary under the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-89, 18.2-90, 18.2-91 or \u00a7 18.2-92, photographs of the goods, merchandise, money or securities alleged to have been taken or converted shall be deemed competent evidence of such goods, merchandise, money or securities and shall be admissible in any proceeding, hearing or trial of the case to the same extent as if such goods, merchandise, money or securities had been introduced as evidence. Such photographs shall bear a written description of the goods, merchandise, money or securities alleged to have been taken or converted, the name of the owner of such goods, merchandise, money or securities and the manner of the identification of same by such owner, or the name of the place wherein the alleged offense occurred, the name of the accused, the name of the arresting or investigating police officer or conservator of the peace, the date of the photograph and the name of the photographer. Such writing shall be made under oath by the arresting or investigating police officer or conservator of the peace, and the photographs identified by the signature of the photographer. Upon the filing of such photograph and writing with the police authority or court holding such goods and merchandise as evidence, such goods or merchandise shall be returned to their owner, or the proprietor or manager of the store or establishment wherein the alleged offense occurred.","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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-270.1\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1976. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 577 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 1976 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1985, chapter 184; in 1987, chapter 493; in 1995, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?951+ful+CHAP0447\">447<\/a>.<\/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":67960,"section_number":"18.2-103","catch_line":"Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags; transferring goods from one container to another; counseling, etc., another in performance of such acts","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-103\/"},{"id":67235,"section_number":"18.2-89","catch_line":"Burglary; how punished","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-89\/"},{"id":60995,"section_number":"18.2-90","catch_line":"Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery or arson; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-90\/"},{"id":55574,"section_number":"18.2-91","catch_line":"Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit larceny, assault and battery or other felony","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-91\/"},{"id":87070,"section_number":"18.2-92","catch_line":"Breaking and entering dwelling house with intent to commit other misdemeanor","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-92\/"},{"id":78364,"section_number":"18.2-95","catch_line":"Grand larceny defined; how punished","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-95\/"},{"id":85076,"section_number":"18.2-96","catch_line":"Petit larceny defined; how punished","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-96\/"},{"id":72452,"section_number":"18.2-98","catch_line":"Larceny of bank notes, checks, etc., or any book of accounts","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-98\/"}],"permalink":{"id":169259,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86326,"identifier":"19.2-270.1","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.1","url":"\/19.2-270.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-270.1\/","token":"19.2\/16\/1\/19.2-270.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Use of photographs as evidence in certain larceny and burglary prosecutions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-270.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>In any <span class=\"dictionary\">prosecution<\/span> for <span class=\"dictionary\">larceny<\/span> under the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Grand larceny defined; how punished\" href=\"\/18.2-95\/\">18.2-95<\/a>, <a class=\"law\" title=\"Petit larceny defined; how punished\" href=\"\/18.2-96\/\">18.2-96<\/a> or \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Larceny of bank notes, checks, etc., or any book of accounts\" href=\"\/18.2-98\/\">18.2-98<\/a>, or for <span class=\"dictionary\">shoplifting<\/span> under the provisions of \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags; transferring goods from one container to another; counseling, etc., another in performance of such acts\" href=\"\/18.2-103\/\">18.2-103<\/a>, or for <span class=\"dictionary\">burglary<\/span> under the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Burglary; how punished\" href=\"\/18.2-89\/\">18.2-89<\/a>, <a class=\"law\" title=\"Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery or arson; penalty\" href=\"\/18.2-90\/\">18.2-90<\/a>, <a class=\"law\" title=\"Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit larceny, assault and battery or other felony\" href=\"\/18.2-91\/\">18.2-91<\/a> or \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Breaking and entering dwelling house with intent to commit other misdemeanor\" href=\"\/18.2-92\/\">18.2-92<\/a>, photographs of the goods, merchandise, money or securities alleged to have been taken or converted shall be deemed competent <span class=\"dictionary\">evidence<\/span> of such goods, merchandise, money or securities and shall be <span class=\"dictionary\">admissible<\/span> in any proceeding, <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">trial<\/span> of the case to the same extent as if such goods, merchandise, money or securities had been introduced as <span class=\"dictionary\">evidence<\/span>. Such photographs shall bear a written description of the goods, merchandise, money or securities alleged to have been taken or converted, the name of the owner of such goods, merchandise, money or securities and the manner of the identification of same by such owner, or the name of the place wherein the alleged <span class=\"dictionary\">offense<\/span> occurred, the name of the <span class=\"dictionary\">accused<\/span>, the name of the arresting or investigating police officer or conservator of the peace, the date of the photograph and the name of the photographer. Such writing shall be made under <span class=\"dictionary\">oath<\/span> by the arresting or investigating police officer or conservator of the peace, and the photographs identified by the signature of the photographer. Upon the filing of such photograph and writing with the police authority or <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> holding such goods and merchandise as <span class=\"dictionary\">evidence<\/span>, such goods or merchandise shall be returned to their owner, or the proprietor or manager of the store or establishment wherein the alleged <span class=\"dictionary\">offense<\/span> occurred.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUSE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS EVIDENCE IN CERTAIN LARCENY AND BURGLARY PROSECUTIONS (\u00a7\n19.2-270.1)\n\nIn any prosecution for larceny under the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-95, 18.2-96 or\n\u00a7 18.2-98, or for shoplifting under the provisions of \u00a7 18.2-103, or for\nburglary under the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 18.2-89, 18.2-90, 18.2-91 or \u00a7 18.2-92,\nphotographs of the goods, merchandise, money or securities alleged to have been\ntaken or converted shall be deemed competent evidence of such goods,\nmerchandise, money or securities and shall be admissible in any proceeding,\nhearing or trial of the case to the same extent as if such goods, merchandise,\nmoney or securities had been introduced as evidence. Such photographs shall bear\na written description of the goods, merchandise, money or securities alleged to\nhave been taken or converted, the name of the owner of such goods, merchandise,\nmoney or securities and the manner of the identification of same by such owner,\nor the name of the place wherein the alleged offense occurred, the name of the\naccused, the name of the arresting or investigating police officer or\nconservator of the peace, the date of the photograph and the name of the\nphotographer. Such writing shall be made under oath by the arresting or\ninvestigating police officer or conservator of the peace, and the photographs\nidentified by the signature of the photographer. Upon the filing of such\nphotograph and writing with the police authority or court holding such goods and\nmerchandise as evidence, such goods or merchandise shall be returned to their\nowner, or the proprietor or manager of the store or establishment wherein the\nalleged offense occurred.\n\nHISTORY: 1976, c. 577; 1985, c. 184; 1987, c. 493; 1995, c. 447.","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}}