{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-71.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-71.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-71.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-71.html"}],"law_id":57792,"edition_id":1,"section_id":57792,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-71","catch_line":"Who may issue process of arrest","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 19.1-90; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495; 1999, c. 266; 2002, c. 310; 2009, cc. 291, 344; 2010, c. 240; 2011, cc. 205, 223; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 344, 345.","full_text":"A\n\nProcess for the arrest of a person charged with a criminal offense may be issued by the judge, or clerk of any circuit court, any general district court, any juvenile and domestic relations district court, or any magistrate as provided for in Chapter 3 (&#xA7; 19.2-26 et seq.). However, no magistrate may issue an arrest warrant for a felony offense upon the basis of a complaint by a person other than a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer without prior authorization by the attorney for the Commonwealth or by a law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the alleged offense.B\n\nNo law-enforcement officer shall seek issuance of process by any judicial officer, for the arrest of a person for an offense of aggravated murder as defined in &#xA7; 18.2-31, without prior authorization by the attorney for the Commonwealth. Failure to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall not be (i) a basis upon which a warrant may be quashed or deemed invalid, (ii) deemed error upon which a conviction or sentence may be reversed or vacated, or (iii) a basis upon which a court may prevent or delay execution of sentence.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":211640,"text":"Process for the arrest of a person charged with a criminal offense may be issued by the judge, or clerk of any circuit court, any general district court, any juvenile and domestic relations district court, or any magistrate as provided for in Chapter 3 (&#xA7; 19.2-26 et seq.). However, no magistrate may issue an arrest warrant for a felony offense upon the basis of a complaint by a person other than a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer without prior authorization by the attorney for the Commonwealth or by a law-enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the alleged offense.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":211641,"text":"No law-enforcement officer shall seek issuance of process by any judicial officer, for the arrest of a person for an offense of aggravated murder as defined in &#xA7; 18.2-31, without prior authorization by the attorney for the Commonwealth. Failure to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall not be (i) a basis upon which a warrant may be quashed or deemed invalid, (ii) deemed error upon which a conviction or sentence may be reversed or vacated, or (iii) a basis upon which a court may prevent or delay execution of sentence.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13638,"edition_id":1,"name":"Arrest","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12801,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:27","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:27","permalink":{"id":170919,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13638,"identifier":"7","token":"19.2\/7","url":"\/19.2\/7\/","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":57792,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-71","catch_line":"Who may issue process of arrest","url":"\/19.2-71\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-71","metadata":false},{"id":56060,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-72","catch_line":"When it may issue; what to recite and require","url":"\/19.2-72\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-72","metadata":false},{"id":62110,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-73","catch_line":"Issuance of summons instead of warrant in certain cases","url":"\/19.2-73\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-73","metadata":false},{"id":70049,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-73.1","catch_line":"Notice of issuance of warrant or summons; appearance; failure to appear","url":"\/19.2-73.1\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-73.1","metadata":false},{"id":83253,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-73.2","catch_line":"Law-enforcement officers to issue subpoenas; penalty","url":"\/19.2-73.2\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-73.2","metadata":false},{"id":57508,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-74","catch_line":"Issuance and service of summons in place of warrant in misdemeanor case; issuance of summons by special conservators of the peace","url":"\/19.2-74\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-74","metadata":false},{"id":68524,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-74.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/19.2-74.1\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-74.1","metadata":false},{"id":79219,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-75","catch_line":"Copy of process to be left with accused; exception","url":"\/19.2-75\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-75","metadata":false},{"id":80529,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-76","catch_line":"Execution and return of warrant, capias or summons; arrest outside county or city where charge is to be tried","url":"\/19.2-76\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-76","metadata":false},{"id":68951,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-76.1","catch_line":"Submission of quarterly reports concerning unexecuted felony and misdemeanor warrants and other criminal process; destruction; dismissal","url":"\/19.2-76.1\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-76.1","metadata":false},{"id":66460,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-76.2","catch_line":"Mailing of summons in certain cases","url":"\/19.2-76.2\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-76.2","metadata":false},{"id":83631,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-76.3","catch_line":"Failure to appear on return date for summons issued under \u00a7 19.2-76.2","url":"\/19.2-76.3\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-76.3","metadata":false},{"id":61047,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-77","catch_line":"Escape, flight and pursuit; arrest anywhere in Commonwealth","url":"\/19.2-77\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-77","metadata":false},{"id":85927,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-78","catch_line":"Uniform of officer making arrest","url":"\/19.2-78\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-78","metadata":false},{"id":79468,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-79","catch_line":"Arrest by officers of other states of United States","url":"\/19.2-79\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-79","metadata":false},{"id":66672,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-80","catch_line":"Duty of arresting officer; bail","url":"\/19.2-80\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-80","metadata":false},{"id":60845,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-80.1","catch_line":"When arrested person operating motor vehicle; how vehicle removed from scene of arrest","url":"\/19.2-80.1\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-80.1","metadata":false},{"id":81296,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-80.2","catch_line":"Duty of arresting officer; providing magistrate or court with criminal history information","url":"\/19.2-80.2\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-80.2","metadata":false},{"id":60675,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-81","catch_line":"Arrest without warrant authorized in certain cases","url":"\/19.2-81\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-81","metadata":false},{"id":62476,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-81.1","catch_line":"Arrest without warrant by correctional officers in certain cases","url":"\/19.2-81.1\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-81.1","metadata":false},{"id":62627,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-81.2","catch_line":"Power of correctional officers and designated noncustodial employees to detain","url":"\/19.2-81.2\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-81.2","metadata":false},{"id":86739,"structure_id":13638,"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","url":"\/19.2-81.3\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-81.3","metadata":false},{"id":55203,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-81.4","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/19.2-81.4\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-81.4","metadata":false},{"id":55495,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-81.5","catch_line":"Cooperation with a law-enforcement officer","url":"\/19.2-81.5\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-81.5","metadata":false},{"id":72697,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-81.6","catch_line":"Authority of law-enforcement officers to arrest illegal aliens","url":"\/19.2-81.6\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-81.6","metadata":false},{"id":61276,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-82","catch_line":"Procedure upon arrest without warrant","url":"\/19.2-82\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-82","metadata":false},{"id":56295,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-82.1","catch_line":"Giving false identity to law-enforcement officer; penalty","url":"\/19.2-82.1\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-82.1","metadata":false},{"id":84938,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-83","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/19.2-83\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-83","metadata":false},{"id":78541,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-83.1","catch_line":"Report of arrest of school employees and adult students for certain offenses","url":"\/19.2-83.1\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-83.1","metadata":false},{"id":54610,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-83.2","catch_line":"Jail officer to ascertain citizenship of inmate","url":"\/19.2-83.2\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-83.2","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":56060,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-72","catch_line":"When it may issue; what to recite and require","url":"\/19.2-72\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-72","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-71\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. 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 1960, chapter 366; in 1975, chapter 495; in 1999, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?991+ful+CHAP0266\">266<\/a>; in 2002, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0310\">310<\/a>; in 2009, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?091+ful+CHAP0291\">291<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?091+ful+CHAP0344\">344<\/a>; in 2010, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?101+ful+CHAP0240\">240<\/a>; in 2011, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?111+ful+CHAP0205\">205<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?111+ful+CHAP0223\">223<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":73081,"section_number":"16.1-127","catch_line":"Courts may conduct preliminary examinations","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-127\/"},{"id":79820,"section_number":"16.1-129","catch_line":"Offenses tried on warrants, or as provided in Chapter 7 of Title 19.2","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-129\/"},{"id":60251,"section_number":"19.2-45","catch_line":"Powers enumerated","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-45\/"},{"id":80452,"section_number":"23.1-815","catch_line":"Campus police forces and auxiliary police forces; powers and duties; jurisdiction","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-815\/"},{"id":54198,"section_number":"9.1-102","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Board and the Department","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-102\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":79946,"section_number":"18.2-31","catch_line":"Aggravated murder defined; punishment","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-31\/"},{"id":85273,"section_number":"19.2-26","catch_line":"Repeal of inconsistent statutes, municipal charters, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-26\/"}],"permalink":{"id":170921,"object_type":"law","relational_id":57792,"identifier":"19.2-71","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-71","url":"\/19.2-71\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-71\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-71","dublin_core":{"Title":"Who may issue process of arrest","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-71","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> Process for the <span class=\"dictionary\">arrest<\/span> of a person charged with a criminal <span class=\"dictionary\">offense<\/span> may be issued by the <span class=\"dictionary\">judge<\/span>, or clerk of any <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>, any general district <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>, any juvenile and domestic relations district <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span>, or any <span class=\"dictionary\">magistrate<\/span> as provided for in Chapter 3 (&#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Repeal of inconsistent statutes, municipal charters, etc\" href=\"\/19.2-26\/\">19.2-26<\/a> et seq.). However, no <span class=\"dictionary\">magistrate<\/span> may <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span> an <span class=\"dictionary\">arrest<\/span> warrant for a <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">offense<\/span> upon the basis of a complaint by a person other than a <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>-enforcement officer or an animal control officer without prior authorization by the attorney for the Commonwealth or by a <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>-enforcement agency having <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> over the alleged <span class=\"dictionary\">offense<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-211640\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/19.2-71\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> No <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>-enforcement officer shall seek issuance of process by any judicial officer, for the <span class=\"dictionary\">arrest<\/span> of a person for an <span class=\"dictionary\">offense<\/span> of aggravated <span class=\"dictionary\">murder<\/span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class=\"law\" title=\"Aggravated murder defined; punishment\" href=\"\/18.2-31\/\">18.2-31<\/a>, without prior authorization by the attorney for the Commonwealth. Failure to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall not be (i) a basis upon which a warrant may be quashed or deemed invalid, (ii) deemed error upon which a <span class=\"dictionary\">conviction<\/span> or sentence may be reversed or vacated, or (iii) a basis upon which a <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> may prevent or delay execution of sentence. <a id=\"paragraph-211641\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/19.2-71\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWHO MAY ISSUE PROCESS OF ARREST (\u00a7 19.2-71)\n\nA. Process for the arrest of a person charged with a criminal offense may be\nissued by the judge, or clerk of any circuit court, any general district court,\nany juvenile and domestic relations district court, or any magistrate as\nprovided for in Chapter 3 (&#xA7; 19.2-26 et seq.). However, no magistrate may\nissue an arrest warrant for a felony offense upon the basis of a complaint by a\nperson other than a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer without\nprior authorization by the attorney for the Commonwealth or by a law-enforcement\nagency having jurisdiction over the alleged offense.\n\nB. No law-enforcement officer shall seek issuance of process by any judicial\nofficer, for the arrest of a person for an offense of aggravated murder as\ndefined in &#xA7; 18.2-31, without prior authorization by the attorney for the\nCommonwealth. Failure to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall not\nbe (i) a basis upon which a warrant may be quashed or deemed invalid, (ii)\ndeemed error upon which a conviction or sentence may be reversed or vacated, or\n(iii) a basis upon which a court may prevent or delay execution of sentence.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 19.1-90; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495; 1999, c. 266; 2002,\nc. 310; 2009, cc. 291, 344; 2010, c. 240; 2011, cc. 205, 223; 2021, Sp. Sess. I,\ncc. 344, 345.","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}}