{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/52-8.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/52-8.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/52-8.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/52-8.1.html"}],"law_id":84077,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84077,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.1","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Bureau of Criminal Investigation","history":"1974, c. 483; 1975, c. 650; 1980, c. 232.","full_text":"In addition to any other powers and duties which may be provided by statute or otherwise, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation shall conduct an investigation into any matter referred to it by the Governor. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation shall, when requested by the Attorney General, any sheriff, chief of police, attorney for the Commonwealth or grand jury, conduct an investigation into the subject matter so directed or requested, if the person or grand jury making the request has reasonable cause to believe the acts committed or about to be committed would constitute a Class 1, 2 or 3 felony, to determine whether any such criminal violations have occurred, are occurring or are about to occur. The Bureau may, in all other requests for investigations made by the Attorney General, any sheriff, chief of police, attorney for the Commonwealth or grand jury, conduct an investigation into the subject matter so requested, to determine whether any criminal violations have occurred, are occurring or are about to occur.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":301296,"text":"In addition to any other powers and duties which may be provided by statute or otherwise, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation shall conduct an investigation into any matter referred to it by the Governor. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation shall, when requested by the Attorney General, any sheriff, chief of police, attorney for the Commonwealth or grand jury, conduct an investigation into the subject matter so directed or requested, if the person or grand jury making the request has reasonable cause to believe the acts committed or about to be committed would constitute a Class 1, 2 or 3 felony, to determine whether any such criminal violations have occurred, are occurring or are about to occur. The Bureau may, in all other requests for investigations made by the Attorney General, any sheriff, chief of police, attorney for the Commonwealth or grand jury, conduct an investigation into the subject matter so requested, to determine whether any criminal violations have occurred, are occurring or are about to occur.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12842,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department of State Police","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12841,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":237129,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12842,"identifier":"1","token":"52\/1","url":"\/52\/1\/","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":53988,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-1","catch_line":"Establishment of Department headed by Superintendent; Bureau of Criminal Investigation and division of drug law enforcement and investigation within Department","url":"\/52-1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-1","metadata":false},{"id":78435,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-10","catch_line":"Fees and rewards","url":"\/52-10\/","token":"52\/1\/52-10","metadata":false},{"id":58622,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11","catch_line":"Defense of police officers","url":"\/52-11\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11","metadata":false},{"id":62756,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.1","catch_line":"State Health Commissioner to cooperate","url":"\/52-11.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.1","metadata":false},{"id":54720,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.2","catch_line":"Services of State Police in areas of counties that have merged, consolidated or been annexed into cities","url":"\/52-11.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.2","metadata":false},{"id":71329,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.3","catch_line":"Acquisition of military property","url":"\/52-11.3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.3","metadata":false},{"id":85646,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.4","catch_line":"Disposal of unclaimed property in the possession of State Police; exemption from the Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act","url":"\/52-11.4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.4","metadata":false},{"id":69293,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.5","catch_line":"Disposal of unclaimed firearms or other weapons in possession of the State Police","url":"\/52-11.5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.5","metadata":false},{"id":85896,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.6","catch_line":"Arrest or summons quota prohibited","url":"\/52-11.6\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.6","metadata":false},{"id":84651,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-2","catch_line":"Appointment of Superintendent and term of office","url":"\/52-2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-2","metadata":false},{"id":67155,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-3","catch_line":"Oath, bond, and salary of Superintendent","url":"\/52-3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-3","metadata":false},{"id":69512,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4","catch_line":"Functions of Department","url":"\/52-4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4","metadata":false},{"id":66390,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/52-4.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.1","metadata":false},{"id":70719,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.2","catch_line":"Department of Motor Vehicles to publish statistical information, and conduct research and experiments; copies to be furnished by Department to Commonwealth's attorneys","url":"\/52-4.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.2","metadata":false},{"id":66900,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.3","catch_line":"Drug Investigation Special Trust Account","url":"\/52-4.3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.3","metadata":false},{"id":86808,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.4","catch_line":"Duties relating to criminal history record information checks required by licensed firearms dealers","url":"\/52-4.4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.4","metadata":false},{"id":62142,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.5","catch_line":"(Effective until July 1, 2026) Facial recognition technology; authorized uses; Department to establish a State Police Model Facial Recognition Technology Policy; penalty","url":"\/52-4.5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.5","metadata":false},{"id":80206,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-5","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/52-5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-5","metadata":false},{"id":74557,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-6","catch_line":"Appointment of additional police officers","url":"\/52-6\/","token":"52\/1\/52-6","metadata":false},{"id":60004,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-6.1","catch_line":"Appointment of supervisory officers","url":"\/52-6.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-6.1","metadata":false},{"id":72935,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-7","catch_line":"Bonds of police officers; liability insurance policies","url":"\/52-7\/","token":"52\/1\/52-7","metadata":false},{"id":55301,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8","catch_line":"Powers and duties to enforce criminal laws and investigate aircraft accidents","url":"\/52-8\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8","metadata":false},{"id":84077,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.1","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Bureau of Criminal Investigation","url":"\/52-8.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.1","metadata":false},{"id":76643,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.1:1","catch_line":"Powers and duties of a drug law enforcement and investigation division","url":"\/52-8.1_1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":63803,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.2","catch_line":"Certain investigations of elected officials; immunity for witnesses","url":"\/52-8.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.2","metadata":false},{"id":75655,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.3","catch_line":"Disclosure of criminal investigative records and reports; penalty","url":"\/52-8.3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.3","metadata":false},{"id":68439,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.4","catch_line":"Powers and duties to promulgate regulations; inspection of certain records","url":"\/52-8.4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.4","metadata":false},{"id":83212,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.4:1","catch_line":"Regulations for firearms shows","url":"\/52-8.4_1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":76234,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.4:2","catch_line":"Certain offenses to be considered traffic infractions","url":"\/52-8.4_2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.4_2","metadata":false},{"id":73991,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.5","catch_line":"Reporting hate crimes","url":"\/52-8.5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.5","metadata":false},{"id":63033,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.6","catch_line":"Criminal street gang reporting","url":"\/52-8.6\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.6","metadata":false},{"id":82197,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9","catch_line":"Administration of oaths; acknowledgments and affidavits; summoning witnesses in certain cases","url":"\/52-9\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9","metadata":false},{"id":61863,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9.1","catch_line":"Distinctive uniform to be adopted for State police officers","url":"\/52-9.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9.1","metadata":false},{"id":84664,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9.1:1","catch_line":"Retired and former law-enforcement officers; retention of badge","url":"\/52-9.1_1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":80886,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9.2","catch_line":"Wearing of same or similar uniforms by other persons","url":"\/52-9.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55301,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8","catch_line":"Powers and duties to enforce criminal laws and investigate aircraft accidents","url":"\/52-8\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":76643,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.1:1","catch_line":"Powers and duties of a drug law enforcement and investigation division","url":"\/52-8.1_1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.1_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/52-8.1\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 483 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 1974 \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 1975, chapter 650; in 1980, chapter 232.<\/p>","references":[{"id":70612,"section_number":"2.2-309","catch_line":"Powers and duties of State Inspector General","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-309\/"},{"id":63803,"section_number":"52-8.2","catch_line":"Certain investigations of elected officials; immunity for witnesses","order_by":null,"url":"\/52-8.2\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":237219,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84077,"identifier":"52-8.1","token":"52\/1\/52-8.1","url":"\/52-8.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/52-8.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers and duties of Bureau of Criminal Investigation","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 52-8.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>In addition to any other powers and duties which may be provided by <span class=\"dictionary\">statute<\/span> or otherwise, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation shall conduct an investigation into any matter referred to it by the Governor. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation shall, when requested by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>, any sheriff, chief of police, attorney for the Commonwealth or <span class=\"dictionary\">grand jury<\/span>, conduct an investigation into the subject matter so directed or requested, if the person or <span class=\"dictionary\">grand jury<\/span> making the request has reasonable cause to believe the acts committed or about to be committed would constitute a Class 1, 2 or 3 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>, to determine whether any such criminal violations have occurred, are occurring or are about to occur. The Bureau may, in all other requests for investigations made by the <span class=\"dictionary\">Attorney General<\/span>, any sheriff, chief of police, attorney for the Commonwealth or <span class=\"dictionary\">grand jury<\/span>, conduct an investigation into the subject matter so requested, to determine whether any criminal violations have occurred, are occurring or are about to occur.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS AND DUTIES OF BUREAU OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (\u00a7 52-8.1)\n\nIn addition to any other powers and duties which may be provided by statute or\notherwise, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation shall conduct an investigation\ninto any matter referred to it by the Governor. The Bureau of Criminal\nInvestigation shall, when requested by the Attorney General, any sheriff, chief\nof police, attorney for the Commonwealth or grand jury, conduct an investigation\ninto the subject matter so directed or requested, if the person or grand jury\nmaking the request has reasonable cause to believe the acts committed or about\nto be committed would constitute a Class 1, 2 or 3 felony, to determine whether\nany such criminal violations have occurred, are occurring or are about to occur.\nThe Bureau may, in all other requests for investigations made by the Attorney\nGeneral, any sheriff, chief of police, attorney for the Commonwealth or grand\njury, conduct an investigation into the subject matter so requested, to\ndetermine whether any criminal violations have occurred, are occurring or are\nabout to occur.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 483; 1975, c. 650; 1980, c. 232.","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}}