{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/52-8.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/52-8.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/52-8.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/52-8.5.html"}],"law_id":73991,"edition_id":1,"section_id":73991,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.5","catch_line":"Reporting hate crimes","history":"1988, c. 838; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2020, cc. 124, 746, 1171.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Superintendent shall establish and maintain within the Department of State Police a central repository for the collection and analysis of information regarding hate crimes and groups and individuals carrying out such acts.B\n\nState, county, and municipal law-enforcement agencies shall report to the Department all hate crimes occurring in their jurisdictions in a form, time, and manner prescribed by the Superintendent. Such reports shall not be open to public inspection except insofar as the Superintendent shall permit.C\n\nAs used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Disability” means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a person’s major life activities.\n\t\t\t“Hate crime” means (i) a criminal act committed against a person or his property with the specific intent of instilling fear or intimidation in the individual against whom the act is perpetrated because of race, religion, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin or that is committed for the purpose of restraining that person from exercising his rights under the Constitution or laws of the Commonwealth or of the United States; (ii) any illegal act directed against any persons or their property because of those persons’ race, religion, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin; and (iii) all other incidents, as determined by law-enforcement authorities, intended to intimidate or harass any individual or group because of race, religion, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":266125,"text":"The Superintendent shall establish and maintain within the Department of State Police a central repository for the collection and analysis of information regarding hate crimes and groups and individuals carrying out such acts.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":266126,"text":"State, county, and municipal law-enforcement agencies shall report to the Department all hate crimes occurring in their jurisdictions in a form, time, and manner prescribed by the Superintendent. Such reports shall not be open to public inspection except insofar as the Superintendent shall permit.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":266127,"text":"As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Disability” means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a person’s major life activities.\n\t\t\t“Hate crime” means (i) a criminal act committed against a person or his property with the specific intent of instilling fear or intimidation in the individual against whom the act is perpetrated because of race, religion, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin or that is committed for the purpose of restraining that person from exercising his rights under the Constitution or laws of the Commonwealth or of the United States; (ii) any illegal act directed against any persons or their property because of those persons’ race, religion, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin; and (iii) all other incidents, as determined by law-enforcement authorities, intended to intimidate or harass any individual or group because of race, religion, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"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":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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/52-8.5\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1988. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 838 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 1988 \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 2002, chapters 588<\/a> and 623<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 124<\/a>, 746<\/a>, and 1171<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":74660,"section_number":"19.2-392.12","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.12\/"},{"id":69635,"section_number":"24.2-233","catch_line":"Removal of elected and certain appointed officers by courts","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-233\/"},{"id":61766,"section_number":"32.1-39","catch_line":"Surveillance and investigation","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-39\/"},{"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":false,"permalink":{"id":237247,"object_type":"law","relational_id":73991,"identifier":"52-8.5","token":"52\/1\/52-8.5","url":"\/52-8.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/52-8.5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.5","dublin_core":{"Title":"Reporting hate crimes","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 52-8.5","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Superintendent shall establish and maintain within the Department of State Police a central repository for the collection and analysis of information regarding hate crimes<\/span> and groups and individuals carrying out such acts. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> State, county, and municipal law<\/span>-enforcement agencies shall report to the Department all hate crimes<\/span> occurring in their jurisdictions<\/span> in a form, time, and manner prescribed by the Superintendent. Such reports shall not be open to public inspection except insofar as the Superintendent shall permit. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Disability<\/span>” means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of a person’s major life activities.\n\t\t\t“Hate crime<\/span>” means (i) a criminal act committed against a person or his property with the specific intent<\/span> of instilling fear or intimidation in the individual against whom the act is perpetrated because of race, religion, gender, disability<\/span>, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin or that is committed for the purpose of restraining that person from exercising his rights under the Constitution or laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth or of the United States; (ii) any illegal act directed against any persons or their property because of those persons’ race, religion, gender, disability<\/span>, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin; and (iii) all other incidents, as determined by law<\/span>-enforcement authorities, intended to intimidate or harass any individual or group because of race, religion, gender, disability<\/span>, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREPORTING HATE CRIMES (\u00a7 52-8.5)\n\nA. The Superintendent shall establish and maintain within the Department of\nState Police a central repository for the collection and analysis of information\nregarding hate crimes and groups and individuals carrying out such acts.\n\nB. State, county, and municipal law-enforcement agencies shall report to the\nDepartment all hate crimes occurring in their jurisdictions in a form, time, and\nmanner prescribed by the Superintendent. Such reports shall not be open to\npublic inspection except insofar as the Superintendent shall permit.\n\nC. As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Disability” means a physical or mental impairment that\nsubstantially limits one or more of a person’s major life activities.\n\t\t\t“Hate crime” means (i) a criminal act committed against a person\nor his property with the specific intent of instilling fear or intimidation in\nthe individual against whom the act is perpetrated because of race, religion,\ngender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national\norigin or that is committed for the purpose of restraining that person from\nexercising his rights under the Constitution or laws of the Commonwealth or of\nthe United States; (ii) any illegal act directed against any persons or their\nproperty because of those persons’ race, religion, gender, disability,\ngender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin; and (iii) all\nother incidents, as determined by law-enforcement authorities, intended to\nintimidate or harass any individual or group because of race, religion, gender,\ndisability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin.\n\nHISTORY: 1988, c. 838; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2020, cc. 124, 746, 1171.","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}}