{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/53.1-127.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/53.1-127.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/53.1-127.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/53.1-127.html"}],"law_id":85147,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85147,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-127","catch_line":"Who may enter interior of local correctional facilities; searches of those entering","history":"1982, c. 636; 1995, c. 797; 2017, c. 759; 2022, c. 277.","full_text":"A\n\nMembers of the local governing bodies that participate in the funding of a local correctional facility may go into the interior of that facility. The Governor, members of the General Assembly, and agents of the Board may go into the interior of any local correctional facility. In addition, Department of Corrections staff and state and local health department staff shall, in the performance of their duties, have access to the interior of any local correctional facility subject to the standards promulgated pursuant to subsections A and B of § 53.1-68. Attorneys shall be permitted in the interior of a local correctional facility to confer with prisoners who are their clients and with prisoners who are witnesses in cases in which they are involved. Except for the announced or unannounced inspections authorized pursuant to subsections A and B of § 53.1-68 or a review conducted pursuant to § 53.1-69.1, the sheriff, jail administrator, or other person in charge of the facility shall prescribe the time and conditions under which attorneys and other persons may enter the local correctional facility for which he is responsible.B\n\nAny person seeking to enter the interior of any local correctional facility shall be subject to a search of his person and effects. Such search shall be performed in a manner reasonable under the circumstances and may be a condition precedent to entering a local correctional facility.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":305101,"text":"Members of the local governing bodies that participate in the funding of a local correctional facility may go into the interior of that facility. The Governor, members of the General Assembly, and agents of the Board may go into the interior of any local correctional facility. In addition, Department of Corrections staff and state and local health department staff shall, in the performance of their duties, have access to the interior of any local correctional facility subject to the standards promulgated pursuant to subsections A and B of § 53.1-68. Attorneys shall be permitted in the interior of a local correctional facility to confer with prisoners who are their clients and with prisoners who are witnesses in cases in which they are involved. Except for the announced or unannounced inspections authorized pursuant to subsections A and B of § 53.1-68 or a review conducted pursuant to § 53.1-69.1, the sheriff, jail administrator, or other person in charge of the facility shall prescribe the time and conditions under which attorneys and other persons may enter the local correctional facility for which he is responsible.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":305102,"text":"Any person seeking to enter the interior of any local correctional facility shall be subject to a search of his person and effects. Such search shall be performed in a manner reasonable under the circumstances and may be a condition precedent to entering a local correctional facility.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13010,"edition_id":1,"name":"Duties of Sheriffs","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12847,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:08","permalink":{"id":238673,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13010,"identifier":"6","token":"53.1\/3\/6","url":"\/53.1\/3\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12847,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Correctional Facilities","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12717,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":238281,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12847,"identifier":"3","token":"53.1\/3","url":"\/53.1\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12717,"edition_id":1,"name":"Prisons and Other Methods of Correction","identifier":"53.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":237591,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12717,"identifier":"53.1","token":"53.1","url":"\/53.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66213,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-116","catch_line":"What records and policy jailer shall keep; how time deducted or added for felons and misdemeanants; payment of fine and costs by person committed to jail until he pays","url":"\/53.1-116\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-116","metadata":false},{"id":84918,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-116.1","catch_line":"Jailer to give notice of release of certain prisoners","url":"\/53.1-116.1\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-116.1","metadata":false},{"id":54082,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-116.1:01","catch_line":"Jailer to give notice of intake of certain prisoners","url":"\/53.1-116.1_01\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-116.1_01","metadata":false},{"id":76275,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-116.1:02","catch_line":"Jailer-issued identification","url":"\/53.1-116.1_02\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-116.1_02","metadata":false},{"id":59367,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-116.2","catch_line":"Sheriffs to be keepers of jails","url":"\/53.1-116.2\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-116.2","metadata":false},{"id":56943,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-116.2:1","catch_line":"Jail superintendents to report certain acts of violence occurring within regional correctional facilities to law-enforcement agency; policies","url":"\/53.1-116.2_1\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-116.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":76469,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-116.3","catch_line":"Improper release; capias, arrest and hearing","url":"\/53.1-116.3\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-116.3","metadata":false},{"id":77700,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-117","catch_line":"Violations of rules to be recorded in register","url":"\/53.1-117\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-117","metadata":false},{"id":83044,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-118","catch_line":"Courts to fine sheriffs for failure to perform duties","url":"\/53.1-118\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-118","metadata":false},{"id":70075,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-119","catch_line":"Court duties of sheriff","url":"\/53.1-119\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-119","metadata":false},{"id":81239,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-120","catch_line":"Sheriff to provide for courthouse and courtroom security; designation of deputies for such purpose; assessment","url":"\/53.1-120\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-120","metadata":false},{"id":54498,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-121","catch_line":"Sheriffs to make daily reports to Compensation Board; failure to send report","url":"\/53.1-121\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-121","metadata":false},{"id":64964,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-122","catch_line":"Daily records of sheriffs and jail superintendents","url":"\/53.1-122\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-122","metadata":false},{"id":62217,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-123","catch_line":"Other accounts, information and records as required by Department","url":"\/53.1-123\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-123","metadata":false},{"id":79685,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-124","catch_line":"Sheriffs and jail superintendents to report to the courts","url":"\/53.1-124\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-124","metadata":false},{"id":86449,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-125","catch_line":"Failure of sheriffs or jail superintendents to comply with requirements of board; filing of complaint; withholding salary","url":"\/53.1-125\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-125","metadata":false},{"id":63523,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-126","catch_line":"Responsibility of sheriffs and jail superintendents for food, clothing and medicine","url":"\/53.1-126\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-126","metadata":false},{"id":85147,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-127","catch_line":"Who may enter interior of local correctional facilities; searches of those entering","url":"\/53.1-127\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-127","metadata":false},{"id":74775,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-127.1","catch_line":"Establishment of stores in local correctional facilities","url":"\/53.1-127.1\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-127.1","metadata":false},{"id":68530,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-127.2","catch_line":"Fees for telephonic communication systems and electronic visitation and messaging systems for prisoners in local correctional facilities","url":"\/53.1-127.2\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-127.2","metadata":false},{"id":68077,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-127.3","catch_line":"Deferred or installment payment agreement for unpaid fees","url":"\/53.1-127.3\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-127.3","metadata":false},{"id":54523,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-127.4","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/53.1-127.4\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-127.4","metadata":false},{"id":77242,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-127.5","catch_line":"Collection of fees owed; contract for collection; duties of Department of Taxation","url":"\/53.1-127.5\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-127.5","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63523,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-126","catch_line":"Responsibility of sheriffs and jail superintendents for food, clothing and medicine","url":"\/53.1-126\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-126","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74775,"structure_id":13010,"section_number":"53.1-127.1","catch_line":"Establishment of stores in local correctional facilities","url":"\/53.1-127.1\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-127.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/53.1-127\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1982. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 636 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 1982 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1995, chapter 797<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 759<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 277<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":85635,"section_number":"53.1-1","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":75446,"section_number":"53.1-68","catch_line":"Minimum standards for local correctional facilities and lock-ups; health inspections, behavioral health services inspections, and personnel","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-68\/"},{"id":86587,"section_number":"53.1-69.1","catch_line":"Review of death of inmates in local, regional, or community correctional facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-69.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":238743,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85147,"identifier":"53.1-127","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-127","url":"\/53.1-127\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/53.1-127\/","token":"53.1\/3\/6\/53.1-127","dublin_core":{"Title":"Who may enter interior of local correctional facilities; searches of those entering","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 53.1-127","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Members of the local governing bodies that participate in the funding of a local correctional facility<\/span> may go into the interior of that facility. The Governor, members of the General Assembly, and agents of the Board<\/span> may go into the interior of any local correctional facility<\/span>. In addition, Department<\/span> of Corrections staff and state and local health department<\/span> staff shall, in the performance of their duties, have access to the interior of any local correctional facility<\/span> subject to the standards promulgated pursuant to subsections A and B of § 53.1-68<\/a>. Attorneys shall be permitted in the interior of a local correctional facility<\/span> to confer with prisoners who are their clients and with prisoners who are witnesses in cases in which they are involved. Except for the announced or unannounced inspections authorized pursuant to subsections A and B of § 53.1-68<\/a> or a review conducted pursuant to § 53.1-69.1<\/a>, the sheriff, jail administrator, or other person in charge of the facility shall prescribe the time and conditions under which attorneys and other persons may enter the local correctional facility<\/span> for which he is responsible. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any person seeking to enter the interior of any local correctional facility<\/span> shall be subject to a search of his person and effects. Such search shall be performed in a manner reasonable under the circumstances and may be a condition precedent<\/span> to entering a local correctional facility<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWHO MAY ENTER INTERIOR OF LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; SEARCHES OF THOSE\nENTERING (\u00a7 53.1-127)\n\nA. Members of the local governing bodies that participate in the funding of a\nlocal correctional facility may go into the interior of that facility. The\nGovernor, members of the General Assembly, and agents of the Board may go into\nthe interior of any local correctional facility. In addition, Department of\nCorrections staff and state and local health department staff shall, in the\nperformance of their duties, have access to the interior of any local\ncorrectional facility subject to the standards promulgated pursuant to\nsubsections A and B of § 53.1-68. Attorneys shall be permitted in the\ninterior of a local correctional facility to confer with prisoners who are their\nclients and with prisoners who are witnesses in cases in which they are\ninvolved. Except for the announced or unannounced inspections authorized\npursuant to subsections A and B of § 53.1-68 or a review conducted pursuant\nto § 53.1-69.1, the sheriff, jail administrator, or other person in charge\nof the facility shall prescribe the time and conditions under which attorneys\nand other persons may enter the local correctional facility for which he is\nresponsible.\n\nB. Any person seeking to enter the interior of any local correctional facility\nshall be subject to a search of his person and effects. Such search shall be\nperformed in a manner reasonable under the circumstances and may be a condition\nprecedent to entering a local correctional facility.\n\nHISTORY: 1982, c. 636; 1995, c. 797; 2017, c. 759; 2022, c. 277.","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}}