{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/52-34.9.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/52-34.9.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/52-34.9.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/52-34.9.html"}],"law_id":77468,"edition_id":1,"section_id":77468,"structure_id":16209,"section_number":"52-34.9","catch_line":"Activation of Blue Alert Program","history":"2011, c. 669.","full_text":"A\n\nUpon notification by a law-enforcement agency that a suspect in a case involving the death or serious injury of a law-enforcement officer has not been apprehended and may be a serious threat to the public, the Department of State Police shall confirm that (i) a suspect has not been apprehended, (ii) the suspect may be a serious threat to the public, and (iii) sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the suspect.B\n\nUpon notification by a law-enforcement agency that a law-enforcement officer is missing while in the line of duty under circumstances warranting concern for such law-enforcement officer’s safety, the Department of State Police shall confirm this information and determine whether sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing law-enforcement officer.C\n\nUpon verification that conditions set forth in subsection A or B have been met, the Department of State Police shall activate the Blue Alert Program.D\n\nThe area of the alert may be less than statewide if the Department of State Police determines that the nature of the event makes it probable that the suspect did not leave a certain geographic location or if the nature of the event makes it probable that the missing law-enforcement officer is within a certain geographic location. The Department of State Police shall assess the appropriate boundaries for the alert based on the nature of the suspect, the circumstances surrounding the crime or the last known location of the missing law-enforcement officer.E\n\nThe Blue Alert shall include such information as the Department of State Police deems appropriate that will assist in the apprehension of the suspect or the locating of the missing law-enforcement officer.F\n\nA law-enforcement agency shall notify the Department of State Police immediately when the suspect is located or the law-enforcement officer is found or the incident is otherwise resolved.G\n\nThe Department of State Police shall terminate any activation of the Blue Alert Program with respect to a particular incident if (i) the suspect or law-enforcement officer is located or the incident is otherwise resolved or (ii) the Department of State Police determines that the Blue Alert Program is no longer an effective tool for locating the suspect or law-enforcement officer.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":277871,"text":"Upon notification by a law-enforcement agency that a suspect in a case involving the death or serious injury of a law-enforcement officer has not been apprehended and may be a serious threat to the public, the Department of State Police shall confirm that (i) a suspect has not been apprehended, (ii) the suspect may be a serious threat to the public, and (iii) sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the suspect.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":277872,"text":"Upon notification by a law-enforcement agency that a law-enforcement officer is missing while in the line of duty under circumstances warranting concern for such law-enforcement officer’s safety, the Department of State Police shall confirm this information and determine whether sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing law-enforcement officer.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":277873,"text":"Upon verification that conditions set forth in subsection A or B have been met, the Department of State Police shall activate the Blue Alert Program.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":277874,"text":"The area of the alert may be less than statewide if the Department of State Police determines that the nature of the event makes it probable that the suspect did not leave a certain geographic location or if the nature of the event makes it probable that the missing law-enforcement officer is within a certain geographic location. The Department of State Police shall assess the appropriate boundaries for the alert based on the nature of the suspect, the circumstances surrounding the crime or the last known location of the missing law-enforcement officer.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":277875,"text":"The Blue Alert shall include such information as the Department of State Police deems appropriate that will assist in the apprehension of the suspect or the locating of the missing law-enforcement officer.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":277876,"text":"A law-enforcement agency shall notify the Department of State Police immediately when the suspect is located or the law-enforcement officer is found or the incident is otherwise resolved.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":277877,"text":"The Department of State Police shall terminate any activation of the Blue Alert Program with respect to a particular incident if (i) the suspect or law-enforcement officer is located or the incident is otherwise resolved or (ii) the Department of State Police determines that the Blue Alert Program is no longer an effective tool for locating the suspect or law-enforcement officer.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16209,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Blue Alert Program","identifier":"7.3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12841,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:09:18","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:09:18","permalink":{"id":237499,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16209,"identifier":"7.3","token":"52\/7.3","url":"\/52\/7.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12841,"edition_id":1,"name":"Police (State)","identifier":"52","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":237127,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12841,"identifier":"52","token":"52","url":"\/52\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":86761,"structure_id":16209,"section_number":"52-34.7","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/52-34.7\/","token":"52\/7.3\/52-34.7","metadata":false},{"id":64913,"structure_id":16209,"section_number":"52-34.8","catch_line":"Establishment of the Virginia Blue Alert Program","url":"\/52-34.8\/","token":"52\/7.3\/52-34.8","metadata":false},{"id":77468,"structure_id":16209,"section_number":"52-34.9","catch_line":"Activation of Blue Alert Program","url":"\/52-34.9\/","token":"52\/7.3\/52-34.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":64913,"structure_id":16209,"section_number":"52-34.8","catch_line":"Establishment of the Virginia Blue Alert Program","url":"\/52-34.8\/","token":"52\/7.3\/52-34.8","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/52-34.9\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2011. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 669<\/a> 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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82227,"section_number":"19.2-60.1","catch_line":"Use of unmanned aircraft systems by public bodies; search warrant required","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-60.1\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":237509,"object_type":"law","relational_id":77468,"identifier":"52-34.9","token":"52\/7.3\/52-34.9","url":"\/52-34.9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/52-34.9\/","token":"52\/7.3\/52-34.9","dublin_core":{"Title":"Activation of Blue Alert Program","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 52-34.9","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Upon notification by a law<\/span>-enforcement agency<\/span> that a suspect in a case involving the death or serious injury of a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> has not been apprehended and may be a serious threat to the public, the Department of State Police shall confirm that (i) a suspect has not been apprehended, (ii) the suspect may be a serious threat to the public, and (iii) sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the suspect. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Upon notification by a law<\/span>-enforcement agency<\/span> that a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> is missing while in the line of duty under circumstances warranting concern for such law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>’s safety, the Department of State Police shall confirm this information and determine whether sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Upon verification that conditions set forth in subsection A or B have been met, the Department of State Police shall activate the Blue Alert Program. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The area of the alert may be less than statewide if the Department of State Police determines that the nature of the event makes it probable that the suspect did not leave a certain geographic location or if the nature of the event makes it probable that the missing law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> is within a certain geographic location. The Department of State Police shall assess the appropriate boundaries for the alert based on the nature of the suspect, the circumstances surrounding the crime<\/span> or the last known location of the missing law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The Blue Alert shall include such information as the Department of State Police deems appropriate that will assist in the apprehension of the suspect or the locating of the missing law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> A law<\/span>-enforcement agency<\/span> shall notify the Department of State Police immediately when the suspect is located or the law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> is found or the incident is otherwise resolved. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> The Department of State Police shall terminate any activation of the Blue Alert Program with respect to a particular incident if (i) the suspect or law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> is located or the incident is otherwise resolved or (ii) the Department of State Police determines that the Blue Alert Program is no longer an effective tool for locating the suspect or law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nACTIVATION OF BLUE ALERT PROGRAM (\u00a7 52-34.9)\n\nA. Upon notification by a law-enforcement agency that a suspect in a case\ninvolving the death or serious injury of a law-enforcement officer has not been\napprehended and may be a serious threat to the public, the Department of State\nPolice shall confirm that (i) a suspect has not been apprehended, (ii) the\nsuspect may be a serious threat to the public, and (iii) sufficient information\nis available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the\nsuspect.\n\nB. Upon notification by a law-enforcement agency that a law-enforcement officer\nis missing while in the line of duty under circumstances warranting concern for\nsuch law-enforcement officer’s safety, the Department of State Police\nshall confirm this information and determine whether sufficient information is\navailable to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing\nlaw-enforcement officer.\n\nC. Upon verification that conditions set forth in subsection A or B have been\nmet, the Department of State Police shall activate the Blue Alert Program.\n\nD. The area of the alert may be less than statewide if the Department of State\nPolice determines that the nature of the event makes it probable that the\nsuspect did not leave a certain geographic location or if the nature of the\nevent makes it probable that the missing law-enforcement officer is within a\ncertain geographic location. The Department of State Police shall assess the\nappropriate boundaries for the alert based on the nature of the suspect, the\ncircumstances surrounding the crime or the last known location of the missing\nlaw-enforcement officer.\n\nE. The Blue Alert shall include such information as the Department of State\nPolice deems appropriate that will assist in the apprehension of the suspect or\nthe locating of the missing law-enforcement officer.\n\nF. A law-enforcement agency shall notify the Department of State Police\nimmediately when the suspect is located or the law-enforcement officer is found\nor the incident is otherwise resolved.\n\nG. The Department of State Police shall terminate any activation of the Blue\nAlert Program with respect to a particular incident if (i) the suspect or\nlaw-enforcement officer is located or the incident is otherwise resolved or (ii)\nthe Department of State Police determines that the Blue Alert Program is no\nlonger an effective tool for locating the suspect or law-enforcement officer.\n\nHISTORY: 2011, c. 669.","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}}