{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-279.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-279.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-279.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-279.1.html"}],"law_id":79182,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79182,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-279.1","catch_line":"Corporal punishment prohibited","history":"1989, c. 287; 1995, c. 681.","full_text":"A\n\nNo teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth shall subject a student to corporal punishment. This prohibition of corporal punishment shall not be deemed to prevent (i) the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order and control; (ii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to quell a disturbance or remove a student from the scene of a disturbance which threatens physical injury to persons or damage to property; (iii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to prevent a student from inflicting physical harm on himself; (iv) the use of reasonable and necessary force for self-defense or the defense of others; or (v) the use of reasonable and necessary force to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects or controlled substances or paraphernalia which are upon the person of the student or within his control.B\n\nIn determining whether a person was acting within the exceptions provided in this section, due deference shall be given to reasonable judgments at the time of the event which were made by a teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth.C\n\nFor the purposes of this section, &#8220;corporal punishment&#8221; means the infliction of, or causing the infliction of, physical pain on a student as a means of discipline.\n\t\t\tThis definition shall not include physical pain, injury or discomfort caused by the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order and control as permitted in subdivision (i) of subsection A of this section or the use of reasonable and necessary force as permitted by subdivisions (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) of subsection A of this section, or by participation in practice or competition in an interscholastic sport, or participation in physical education or an extracurricular activity.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":283571,"text":"No teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth shall subject a student to corporal punishment. This prohibition of corporal punishment shall not be deemed to prevent (i) the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order and control; (ii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to quell a disturbance or remove a student from the scene of a disturbance which threatens physical injury to persons or damage to property; (iii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to prevent a student from inflicting physical harm on himself; (iv) the use of reasonable and necessary force for self-defense or the defense of others; or (v) the use of reasonable and necessary force to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects or controlled substances or paraphernalia which are upon the person of the student or within his control.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":283572,"text":"In determining whether a person was acting within the exceptions provided in this section, due deference shall be given to reasonable judgments at the time of the event which were made by a teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":283573,"text":"For the purposes of this section, &#8220;corporal punishment&#8221; means the infliction of, or causing the infliction of, physical pain on a student as a means of discipline.\n\t\t\tThis definition shall not include physical pain, injury or discomfort caused by the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order and control as permitted in subdivision (i) of subsection A of this section or the use of reasonable and necessary force as permitted by subdivisions (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) of subsection A of this section, or by participation in practice or competition in an interscholastic sport, or participation in physical education or an extracurricular activity.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13097,"edition_id":1,"name":"Discipline","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12850,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:17","permalink":{"id":182375,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13097,"identifier":"3","token":"22.1\/14\/3","url":"\/22.1\/14\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12850,"edition_id":1,"name":"Pupils","identifier":"14","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12823,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":182133,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12850,"identifier":"14","token":"22.1\/14","url":"\/22.1\/14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12823,"edition_id":1,"name":"Education","identifier":"22.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":180949,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12823,"identifier":"22.1","token":"22.1","url":"\/22.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":84373,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-276","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-276\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-276","metadata":false},{"id":77797,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-276.01","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/22.1-276.01\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-276.01","metadata":false},{"id":59130,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-276.1","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/22.1-276.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-276.1","metadata":false},{"id":59973,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-276.2","catch_line":"Removal of students from classes","url":"\/22.1-276.2\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-276.2","metadata":false},{"id":67307,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-276.3","catch_line":"Ineligibility of students to compete in athletic competitions","url":"\/22.1-276.3\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-276.3","metadata":false},{"id":87441,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-277","catch_line":"Suspensions and expulsions of students generally","url":"\/22.1-277\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-277","metadata":false},{"id":60099,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-277.01","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-277.01\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-277.01","metadata":false},{"id":56964,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-277.04","catch_line":"Short-term suspension; 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protective orders; notification","url":"\/22.1-279.3_2\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.3_2","metadata":false},{"id":79774,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-279.3:3","catch_line":"Alternative school discipline process for certain incidents","url":"\/22.1-279.3_3\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.3_3","metadata":false},{"id":69487,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-279.4","catch_line":"Information regarding prosecution for certain crimes","url":"\/22.1-279.4\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.4","metadata":false},{"id":58983,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-279.5","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-279.5\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.5","metadata":false},{"id":74451,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-279.6","catch_line":"Board of Education guidelines and model policies for codes of student conduct; school board regulations","url":"\/22.1-279.6\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.6","metadata":false},{"id":81587,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-279.7","catch_line":"Guidelines for student searches","url":"\/22.1-279.7\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.7","metadata":false},{"id":80015,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-279.8","catch_line":"School safety audits and school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plans required","url":"\/22.1-279.8\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.8","metadata":false},{"id":81689,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-279.9","catch_line":"Development of programs to prevent crime and violence; hazing prevention training program","url":"\/22.1-279.9\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.9","metadata":false},{"id":76810,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-280","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-280\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-280","metadata":false},{"id":85922,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-280.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-280.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-280.1","metadata":false},{"id":74356,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-280.2","catch_line":"School crime line defined; development of school crime lines authorized; local school boards' authority; Board to promulgate regulations","url":"\/22.1-280.2\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-280.2","metadata":false},{"id":65627,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-280.2:1","catch_line":"Employment of school security officers","url":"\/22.1-280.2_1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-280.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":62442,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-280.2:2","catch_line":"Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013","url":"\/22.1-280.2_2\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-280.2_2","metadata":false},{"id":78459,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-280.2:3","catch_line":"School boards; safety and security personnel","url":"\/22.1-280.2_3\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-280.2_3","metadata":false},{"id":74189,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-280.2:4","catch_line":"School boards; firearms on school property","url":"\/22.1-280.2_4\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-280.2_4","metadata":false},{"id":54225,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-280.3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-280.3\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-280.3","metadata":false},{"id":54838,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-280.4","catch_line":"School board action regarding destruction of property","url":"\/22.1-280.4\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-280.4","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":74737,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-279","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-279\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":75691,"structure_id":13097,"section_number":"22.1-279.10","catch_line":"School resource officers; data","url":"\/22.1-279.10\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.10","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-279.1\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1989. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 287 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 1989 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 1995, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?951+ful+CHAP0681\">681<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":66780,"section_number":"63.2-1511","catch_line":"Complaints of abuse and neglect against school personnel; interagency agreement","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1511\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":182453,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79182,"identifier":"22.1-279.1","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.1","url":"\/22.1-279.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-279.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/3\/22.1-279.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Corporal punishment prohibited","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-279.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> No teacher, principal or other person employed by a <span class=\"dictionary\">school board<\/span> or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth shall subject a student to <span class=\"dictionary\">corporal punishment<\/span>. This prohibition of <span class=\"dictionary\">corporal punishment<\/span> shall not be deemed to prevent (i) the use of incidental, <span class=\"dictionary\">minor<\/span> or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> and control; (ii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to quell a disturbance or remove a student from the scene of a disturbance which threatens physical injury to persons or damage to property; (iii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to prevent a student from inflicting physical harm on himself; (iv) the use of reasonable and necessary force for self-defense or the defense of others; or (v) the use of reasonable and necessary force to obtain <span class=\"dictionary\">possession<\/span> of weapons or other dangerous <span class=\"dictionary\">objects<\/span> or controlled substances or paraphernalia which are upon the person of the student or within his control. <a id=\"paragraph-283571\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/22.1-279.1\/#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> In determining whether a person was acting within the exceptions provided in this section, due deference shall be given to reasonable <span class=\"dictionary\">judgments<\/span> at the time of the event which were made by a teacher, principal or other person employed by a <span class=\"dictionary\">school board<\/span> or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth. <a id=\"paragraph-283572\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/22.1-279.1\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> For the purposes of this section, &#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">corporal punishment<\/span>&#8221; means the infliction of, or causing the infliction of, physical pain on a student as a means of discipline.\n\t\t\tThis definition shall not include physical pain, injury or discomfort caused by the use of incidental, <span class=\"dictionary\">minor<\/span> or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> and control as permitted in subdivision (i) of subsection A of this section or the use of reasonable and necessary force as permitted by subdivisions (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) of subsection A of this section, or by participation in practice or competition in an interscholastic sport, or participation in physical education or an extracurricular activity. <a id=\"paragraph-283573\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/22.1-279.1\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCORPORAL PUNISHMENT PROHIBITED (\u00a7 22.1-279.1)\n\nA. No teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board or employed\nin a school operated by the Commonwealth shall subject a student to corporal\npunishment. This prohibition of corporal punishment shall not be deemed to\nprevent (i) the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other\nactions designed to maintain order and control; (ii) the use of reasonable and\nnecessary force to quell a disturbance or remove a student from the scene of a\ndisturbance which threatens physical injury to persons or damage to property;\n(iii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to prevent a student from\ninflicting physical harm on himself; (iv) the use of reasonable and necessary\nforce for self-defense or the defense of others; or (v) the use of reasonable\nand necessary force to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects\nor controlled substances or paraphernalia which are upon the person of the\nstudent or within his control.\n\nB. In determining whether a person was acting within the exceptions provided in\nthis section, due deference shall be given to reasonable judgments at the time\nof the event which were made by a teacher, principal or other person employed by\na school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth.\n\nC. For the purposes of this section, &#8220;corporal punishment&#8221; means the\ninfliction of, or causing the infliction of, physical pain on a student as a\nmeans of discipline.\n\t\t\tThis definition shall not include physical pain, injury or discomfort caused\nby the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions\ndesigned to maintain order and control as permitted in subdivision (i) of\nsubsection A of this section or the use of reasonable and necessary force as\npermitted by subdivisions (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) of subsection A of this\nsection, or by participation in practice or competition in an interscholastic\nsport, or participation in physical education or an extracurricular activity.\n\nHISTORY: 1989, c. 287; 1995, c. 681.","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}}