{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-81.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-81.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-81.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-81.2.html"}],"law_id":62627,"edition_id":1,"section_id":62627,"structure_id":13638,"section_number":"19.2-81.2","catch_line":"Power of correctional officers and designated noncustodial employees to detain","history":"1976, c. 740; 1979, c. 642; 1984, cc. 720, 779.","full_text":"A\n\nA correctional officer, as defined in § 53.1-1, who has completed the minimum training standards established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, or other noncustodial employee of the Department of Corrections who has been designated to carry a weapon by the Director of the Department of Corrections pursuant to § 53.1-29 of the Code and who has completed the basic course in detention training as approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, may, while on duty in or on the grounds of a correctional institution, or with custody of prisoners without the confines of a correctional institution, detain any person whom he has reasonable suspicion to believe has committed a violation of §§ 18.2-473 through 18.2-475, or of aiding or abetting a prisoner in violating the provisions of § 53.1-203. Such detention shall be for the purpose of summoning a law-enforcement officer in order that the law-enforcement officer can arrest the person who is alleged to have violated any of the above sections.B\n\nAny employee of the Department of Corrections having the authority to detain any person pursuant to subsection A hereof shall not be held civilly liable for unlawful detention, slander, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, false arrest, or assault and battery of the person so detained, whether such detention takes place within or without the grounds of a correctional institution, provided that, in causing the detention of such person, the employee had at the time of the detention reasonable suspicion to believe that the person committed a violation for which the detention was undertaken.C\n\nIt is the purpose and intent of this section to ensure that the safety, stability, welfare and security of correctional institutions be preserved insofar as possible.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":228352,"text":"A correctional officer, as defined in § 53.1-1, who has completed the minimum training standards established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, or other noncustodial employee of the Department of Corrections who has been designated to carry a weapon by the Director of the Department of Corrections pursuant to § 53.1-29 of the Code and who has completed the basic course in detention training as approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, may, while on duty in or on the grounds of a correctional institution, or with custody of prisoners without the confines of a correctional institution, detain any person whom he has reasonable suspicion to believe has committed a violation of §§ 18.2-473 through 18.2-475, or of aiding or abetting a prisoner in violating the provisions of § 53.1-203. Such detention shall be for the purpose of summoning a law-enforcement officer in order that the law-enforcement officer can arrest the person who is alleged to have violated any of the above sections.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":228353,"text":"Any employee of the Department of Corrections having the authority to detain any person pursuant to subsection A hereof shall not be held civilly liable for unlawful detention, slander, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, false arrest, or assault and battery of the person so detained, whether such detention takes place within or without the grounds of a correctional institution, provided that, in causing the detention of such person, the employee had at the time of the detention reasonable suspicion to believe that the person committed a violation for which the detention was undertaken.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":228354,"text":"It is the purpose and intent of this section to ensure that the safety, stability, welfare and security of correctional institutions be preserved insofar as possible.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"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; 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procedure, etc","url":"\/19.2-81.3\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-81.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-81.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1976. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 740 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 2 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 1979, chapter 642; in 1984, chapters 720 and 779.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":86161,"section_number":"18.2-473","catch_line":"Persons aiding escape of prisoner or child","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-473\/"},{"id":77301,"section_number":"18.2-475","catch_line":"Officers, etc., voluntarily allowing person convicted, charged, or adjudicated delinquent of felony to escape; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-475\/"},{"id":85635,"section_number":"53.1-1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-1\/"},{"id":60787,"section_number":"53.1-203","catch_line":"Felonies by prisoners; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-203\/"},{"id":70840,"section_number":"53.1-29","catch_line":"Authority for correctional officers and other employees to carry weapons","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-29\/"}],"permalink":{"id":171001,"object_type":"law","relational_id":62627,"identifier":"19.2-81.2","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-81.2","url":"\/19.2-81.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-81.2\/","token":"19.2\/7\/19.2-81.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Power of correctional officers and designated noncustodial employees to detain","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-81.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A correctional officer, as defined in § 53.1-1<\/a>, who has completed the minimum training standards established by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, or other noncustodial employee of the Department of Corrections who has been designated to carry a weapon by the Director of the Department of Corrections pursuant to § 53.1-29<\/a> of the Code and who has completed the basic course in detention training as approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, may, while on duty in or on the grounds of a correctional institution, or with custody<\/span> of prisoners without the confines of a correctional institution, detain<\/span> any person whom he has reasonable suspicion to believe has committed a violation of §§ 18.2-473<\/a> through 18.2-475<\/a>, or of aiding or abetting a prisoner in violating the provisions of § 53.1-203<\/a>. Such detention shall be for the purpose of summoning a law<\/span>-enforcement officer in order<\/span> that the law<\/span>-enforcement officer can arrest<\/span> the person who is alleged to have violated any of the above sections. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any employee of the Department of Corrections having the authority to detain<\/span> any person pursuant to subsection A hereof shall not be held civilly liable for unlawful detention, slander, malicious<\/span> prosecution<\/span>, false imprisonment, false arrest<\/span>, or assault<\/span> and battery<\/span> of the person so detained, whether such detention takes place within or without the grounds of a correctional institution, provided that, in causing the detention of such person, the employee had at the time of the detention reasonable suspicion to believe that the person committed a violation for which the detention was undertaken. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> It is the purpose and intent<\/span> of this section to ensure that the safety, stability, welfare and security of correctional institutions be preserved insofar as possible. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWER OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND DESIGNATED NONCUSTODIAL EMPLOYEES TO DETAIN\n(\u00a7 19.2-81.2)\n\nA. A correctional officer, as defined in § 53.1-1, who has completed the\nminimum training standards established by the Department of Criminal Justice\nServices, or other noncustodial employee of the Department of Corrections who\nhas been designated to carry a weapon by the Director of the Department of\nCorrections pursuant to § 53.1-29 of the Code and who has completed the\nbasic course in detention training as approved by the Department of Criminal\nJustice Services, may, while on duty in or on the grounds of a correctional\ninstitution, or with custody of prisoners without the confines of a correctional\ninstitution, detain any person whom he has reasonable suspicion to believe has\ncommitted a violation of §§ 18.2-473 through 18.2-475, or of aiding or\nabetting a prisoner in violating the provisions of § 53.1-203. Such\ndetention shall be for the purpose of summoning a law-enforcement officer in\norder that the law-enforcement officer can arrest the person who is alleged to\nhave violated any of the above sections.\n\nB. Any employee of the Department of Corrections having the authority to detain\nany person pursuant to subsection A hereof shall not be held civilly liable for\nunlawful detention, slander, malicious prosecution, false imprisonment, false\narrest, or assault and battery of the person so detained, whether such detention\ntakes place within or without the grounds of a correctional institution,\nprovided that, in causing the detention of such person, the employee had at the\ntime of the detention reasonable suspicion to believe that the person committed\na violation for which the detention was undertaken.\n\nC. It is the purpose and intent of this section to ensure that the safety,\nstability, welfare and security of correctional institutions be preserved\ninsofar as possible.\n\nHISTORY: 1976, c. 740; 1979, c. 642; 1984, cc. 720, 779.","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}}