{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/59.1-201.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/59.1-201.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/59.1-201.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/59.1-201.html"}],"law_id":72568,"edition_id":1,"section_id":72568,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-201","catch_line":"Civil investigative orders","history":"1977, c. 635; 1979, c. 493; 1982, c. 13; 1987, c. 464; 1995, c. 703; 2008, c. 485.","full_text":"A\n\nWhenever the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county, city, or town has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, or is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1, the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county, city, or town if, after making a good faith effort to obtain such information, is unable to obtain the data and information necessary to determine whether such violation has occurred, or that it is impractical for him to do so, he may apply to the circuit court within whose jurisdiction the person having information resides, or has its principal place of business, for an investigative order requiring such person to furnish to the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town such data and information as is relevant to the subject matter of the investigation.B\n\nThe circuit courts are empowered to issue investigative orders, authorizing discovery by the same methods and procedures as set forth for civil actions in the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, in connection with investigations of violations of \u00a7 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1 by the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county, city, or town. An application for an investigative order shall identify:1\n\nThe specific act or practice alleged to be in violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1;2\n\nThe grounds which shall demonstrate reasonable cause to believe that a violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1 may have occurred, may be occurring or may be about to occur;3\n\nThe category or class of data or information requested in the investigative order; and4\n\nThe reasons why the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town is unable to obtain such data and information, or the reason why it is impractical to do so, without a court order.C\n\nWithin 21 days after the service upon a person of an investigative order, or at any time before the return date specified in such order, whichever is later, such person may file a motion to modify or set aside such investigative order or to seek a protective order as provided by the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Such motion shall specify the grounds for modifying or setting aside the order, and may be based upon the failure of the application or the order to comply with the requirements of this section, or upon any constitutional or other legal basis or privilege of such person.D\n\nWhere the information requested by an investigative order may be derived or ascertained from the business records of the person upon whom the order is served, or from an examination, audit or inspection of such business records, or from a compilation, abstract or summary thereof, and the burden of deriving or ascertaining the information is substantially the same for the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town as for the person from whom such information is requested, it shall be sufficient for that person to specify the records from which the requested information may be derived or ascertained, and to afford the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for the county, city, or town reasonable opportunity to examine, audit or inspect such records and to make copies, compilations, abstracts or summaries thereof.E\n\nIt shall be the duty of the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town, his assistants, employees and agents, to maintain the secrecy of all evidence, documents, data and information obtained through the use of investigative orders or obtained as a result of the voluntary act of the person under investigation and it shall be unlawful for any person participating in such investigations to disclose to any other person not participating in such investigation any information so obtained. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor and shall be punished in accordance with § 18.2-11. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall not preclude the presentation and disclosure of any information obtained pursuant to this section in any suit or action in any court of this Commonwealth wherein it is alleged that a violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1 has occurred, is occurring or may occur, nor shall this section prevent the disclosure of any such information by the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town to any federal or state law-enforcement authority that has restrictions governing confidentiality and the use of such information similar to those contained in this subsection; however, such disclosures may only be made as to information obtained after July 1, 1979.F\n\nUpon the failure of a person without lawful excuse to obey an investigative order under this section, the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for the county, city, or town may initiate contempt proceedings in the circuit court that issued the order to hold such person in contempt.G\n\nNo information, facts or data obtained through an investigative order shall be admissible in any civil or criminal proceeding other than for the enforcement of this chapter and the remedies provided herein.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":261293,"text":"Whenever the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county, city, or town has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, or is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1, the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county, city, or town if, after making a good faith effort to obtain such information, is unable to obtain the data and information necessary to determine whether such violation has occurred, or that it is impractical for him to do so, he may apply to the circuit court within whose jurisdiction the person having information resides, or has its principal place of business, for an investigative order requiring such person to furnish to the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town such data and information as is relevant to the subject matter of the investigation.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":261294,"text":"The circuit courts are empowered to issue investigative orders, authorizing discovery by the same methods and procedures as set forth for civil actions in the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, in connection with investigations of violations of \u00a7 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1 by the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county, city, or town. An application for an investigative order shall identify:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":261295,"text":"The specific act or practice alleged to be in violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":261296,"text":"The grounds which shall demonstrate reasonable cause to believe that a violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1 may have occurred, may be occurring or may be about to occur;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":261297,"text":"The category or class of data or information requested in the investigative order; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":261298,"text":"The reasons why the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town is unable to obtain such data and information, or the reason why it is impractical to do so, without a court order.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"C"},"6":{"id":261299,"text":"Within 21 days after the service upon a person of an investigative order, or at any time before the return date specified in such order, whichever is later, such person may file a motion to modify or set aside such investigative order or to seek a protective order as provided by the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Such motion shall specify the grounds for modifying or setting aside the order, and may be based upon the failure of the application or the order to comply with the requirements of this section, or upon any constitutional or other legal basis or privilege of such person.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"D"},"7":{"id":261300,"text":"Where the information requested by an investigative order may be derived or ascertained from the business records of the person upon whom the order is served, or from an examination, audit or inspection of such business records, or from a compilation, abstract or summary thereof, and the burden of deriving or ascertaining the information is substantially the same for the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town as for the person from whom such information is requested, it shall be sufficient for that person to specify the records from which the requested information may be derived or ascertained, and to afford the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for the county, city, or town reasonable opportunity to examine, audit or inspect such records and to make copies, compilations, abstracts or summaries thereof.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"8":{"id":261301,"text":"It shall be the duty of the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town, his assistants, employees and agents, to maintain the secrecy of all evidence, documents, data and information obtained through the use of investigative orders or obtained as a result of the voluntary act of the person under investigation and it shall be unlawful for any person participating in such investigations to disclose to any other person not participating in such investigation any information so obtained. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor and shall be punished in accordance with § 18.2-11. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall not preclude the presentation and disclosure of any information obtained pursuant to this section in any suit or action in any court of this Commonwealth wherein it is alleged that a violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1 has occurred, is occurring or may occur, nor shall this section prevent the disclosure of any such information by the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town to any federal or state law-enforcement authority that has restrictions governing confidentiality and the use of such information similar to those contained in this subsection; however, such disclosures may only be made as to information obtained after July 1, 1979.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"9":{"id":261302,"text":"Upon the failure of a person without lawful excuse to obey an investigative order under this section, the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for the county, city, or town may initiate contempt proceedings in the circuit court that issued the order to hold such person in contempt.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"10":{"id":261303,"text":"No information, facts or data obtained through an investigative order shall be admissible in any civil or criminal proceeding other than for the enforcement of this chapter and the remedies provided herein.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13706,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Consumer Protection Act","identifier":"17","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12809,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:36","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:36","permalink":{"id":259775,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13706,"identifier":"17","token":"59.1\/17","url":"\/59.1\/17\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12809,"edition_id":1,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":259521,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12809,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":56198,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-196","catch_line":"Title","url":"\/59.1-196\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-196","metadata":false},{"id":73728,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-197","catch_line":"Intent","url":"\/59.1-197\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-197","metadata":false},{"id":70121,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-198","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/59.1-198\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-198","metadata":false},{"id":69020,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-199","catch_line":"Exclusions","url":"\/59.1-199\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-199","metadata":false},{"id":82977,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-200","catch_line":"Prohibited practices","url":"\/59.1-200\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-200","metadata":false},{"id":63532,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-200.1","catch_line":"Prohibited practices; foreclosure rescue","url":"\/59.1-200.1\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-200.1","metadata":false},{"id":72568,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-201","catch_line":"Civil investigative orders","url":"\/59.1-201\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-201","metadata":false},{"id":80041,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-201.1","catch_line":"Attorney General empowered to issue civil investigative demands","url":"\/59.1-201.1\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-201.1","metadata":false},{"id":54689,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-202","catch_line":"Assurances of voluntary compliance","url":"\/59.1-202\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-202","metadata":false},{"id":58087,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-203","catch_line":"Restraining prohibited acts","url":"\/59.1-203\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-203","metadata":false},{"id":78713,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-204","catch_line":"Individual action for damages or penalty","url":"\/59.1-204\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-204","metadata":false},{"id":64214,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-204.1","catch_line":"Tolling of limitation","url":"\/59.1-204.1\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-204.1","metadata":false},{"id":64777,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-205","catch_line":"Additional relief","url":"\/59.1-205\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-205","metadata":false},{"id":83374,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-206","catch_line":"Civil penalties; attorney fees","url":"\/59.1-206\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-206","metadata":false},{"id":85255,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-207","catch_line":"Unintentional violations","url":"\/59.1-207\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-207","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63532,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-200.1","catch_line":"Prohibited practices; foreclosure rescue","url":"\/59.1-200.1\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-200.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":80041,"structure_id":13706,"section_number":"59.1-201.1","catch_line":"Attorney General empowered to issue civil investigative demands","url":"\/59.1-201.1\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-201.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-201\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1977. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 635 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 1977 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 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 1979, chapter 493; in 1982, chapter 13; in 1987, chapter 464; in 1995, chapter 703<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 485<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":87024,"section_number":"18.2-11","catch_line":"Punishment for conviction of misdemeanor","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-11\/"},{"id":82977,"section_number":"59.1-200","catch_line":"Prohibited practices","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-200\/"},{"id":63532,"section_number":"59.1-200.1","catch_line":"Prohibited practices; foreclosure rescue","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-200.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":259801,"object_type":"law","relational_id":72568,"identifier":"59.1-201","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-201","url":"\/59.1-201\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-201\/","token":"59.1\/17\/59.1-201","dublin_core":{"Title":"Civil investigative orders","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-201","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Whenever the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county, city, or town has reasonable cause to believe that any person<\/span> has engaged in, or is engaging in, or is about to engage in, any violation of § 59.1-200<\/a> or 59.1-200.1<\/a>, the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county, city, or town if, after making a good faith effort to obtain such information, is unable to obtain the data and information necessary to determine whether such violation has occurred, or that it is impractical for him to do so, he may apply to the circuit<\/span> court<\/span> within whose jurisdiction<\/span> the person<\/span> having information resides, or has its principal place of business, for an investigative order<\/span> requiring such person<\/span> to furnish to the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town such data and information as is relevant to the subject matter of the investigation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The circuit<\/span> courts<\/span> are empowered to issue<\/span> investigative orders<\/span>, authorizing discovery<\/span> by the same methods and procedures as set forth for civil actions<\/span> in the Rules of the Supreme Court<\/span> of Virginia, in connection with investigations of violations of \u00a7 59.1-200<\/a> or 59.1-200.1<\/a> by the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county, city, or town. An application for an investigative order<\/span> shall identify: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The specific act or practice alleged to be in violation of § 59.1-200<\/a> or 59.1-200.1<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The grounds which shall demonstrate reasonable cause to believe that a violation of § 59.1-200<\/a> or 59.1-200.1<\/a> may have occurred, may be occurring or may be about to occur; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The category or class of data or information requested in the investigative order<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The reasons why the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town is unable to obtain such data and information, or the reason why it is impractical to do so, without a court order<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Within 21 days after the service upon a person<\/span> of an investigative order, or at any time before the return date specified in such order, whichever is later, such person<\/span> may file a motion<\/span> to modify or set aside such investigative order or to seek a protective order as provided by the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Such motion<\/span> shall specify the grounds for modifying or setting aside the order, and may be based upon the failure of the application or the order to comply with the requirements of this section, or upon any constitutional or other legal basis or privilege<\/span> of such person<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Where the information requested by an investigative order may be derived or ascertained from the business records of the person<\/span> upon whom the order is served, or from an examination, audit or inspection of such business records, or from a compilation, abstract or summary thereof, and the burden of deriving or ascertaining the information is substantially the same for the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town as for the person<\/span> from whom such information is requested, it shall be sufficient for that person<\/span> to specify the records from which the requested information may be derived or ascertained, and to afford the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for the county, city, or town reasonable opportunity to examine, audit or inspect such records and to make copies, compilations, abstracts or summaries thereof. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> It shall be the duty of the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town, his assistants, employees and agents, to maintain the secrecy of all evidence<\/span>, documents, data and information obtained through the use of investigative orders<\/span> or obtained as a result of the voluntary act of the person<\/span> under investigation and it shall be unlawful for any person<\/span> participating in such investigations to disclose to any other person<\/span> not participating in such investigation any information so obtained. Any person<\/span> violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor<\/span> and shall be punished in accordance with § 18.2-11<\/a>. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall not preclude the presentation and disclosure of any information obtained pursuant to this section in any suit or action in any court of this Commonwealth wherein it is alleged that a violation of § 59.1-200<\/a> or 59.1-200.1<\/a> has occurred, is occurring or may occur, nor shall this section prevent the disclosure of any such information by the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town to any federal or state law<\/span>-enforcement authority that has restrictions governing confidentiality and the use of such information similar to those contained in this subsection; however, such disclosures may only be made as to information obtained after July 1, 1979. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Upon the failure of a person<\/span> without lawful excuse to obey an investigative order under this section, the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for the county, city, or town may initiate contempt<\/span> proceedings in the circuit<\/span> court that issued the order to hold such person<\/span> in contempt<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> No information, facts<\/span> or data obtained through an investigative order shall be admissible<\/span> in any civil or criminal proceeding other than for the enforcement of this chapter and the remedies provided herein. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCIVIL INVESTIGATIVE ORDERS (\u00a7 59.1-201)\n\nA. Whenever the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county,\ncity, or town has reasonable cause to believe that any person has engaged in, or\nis engaging in, or is about to engage in, any violation of § 59.1-200 or\n59.1-200.1, the attorney for the Commonwealth or the attorney for a county,\ncity, or town if, after making a good faith effort to obtain such information,\nis unable to obtain the data and information necessary to determine whether such\nviolation has occurred, or that it is impractical for him to do so, he may apply\nto the circuit court within whose jurisdiction the person having information\nresides, or has its principal place of business, for an investigative order\nrequiring such person to furnish to the attorney for the Commonwealth or\nattorney for a county, city, or town such data and information as is relevant to\nthe subject matter of the investigation.\n\nB. The circuit courts are empowered to issue investigative orders, authorizing\ndiscovery by the same methods and procedures as set forth for civil actions in\nthe Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, in connection with investigations of\nviolations of \u00a7 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1 by the attorney for the Commonwealth or\nthe attorney for a county, city, or town. An application for an investigative\norder shall identify:\n\n 1. The specific act or practice alleged to be in violation of § 59.1-200\n or 59.1-200.1;\n\n 2. The grounds which shall demonstrate reasonable cause to believe that a\n violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1 may have occurred, may be occurring\n or may be about to occur;\n\n 3. The category or class of data or information requested in the investigative\n order; and\n\n 4. The reasons why the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county,\n city, or town is unable to obtain such data and information, or the reason why\n it is impractical to do so, without a court order.\n\nC. Within 21 days after the service upon a person of an investigative order, or\nat any time before the return date specified in such order, whichever is later,\nsuch person may file a motion to modify or set aside such investigative order or\nto seek a protective order as provided by the Rules of the Supreme Court of\nVirginia. Such motion shall specify the grounds for modifying or setting aside\nthe order, and may be based upon the failure of the application or the order to\ncomply with the requirements of this section, or upon any constitutional or\nother legal basis or privilege of such person.\n\nD. Where the information requested by an investigative order may be derived or\nascertained from the business records of the person upon whom the order is\nserved, or from an examination, audit or inspection of such business records, or\nfrom a compilation, abstract or summary thereof, and the burden of deriving or\nascertaining the information is substantially the same for the attorney for the\nCommonwealth or attorney for a county, city, or town as for the person from whom\nsuch information is requested, it shall be sufficient for that person to specify\nthe records from which the requested information may be derived or ascertained,\nand to afford the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for the county,\ncity, or town reasonable opportunity to examine, audit or inspect such records\nand to make copies, compilations, abstracts or summaries thereof.\n\nE. It shall be the duty of the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a\ncounty, city, or town, his assistants, employees and agents, to maintain the\nsecrecy of all evidence, documents, data and information obtained through the\nuse of investigative orders or obtained as a result of the voluntary act of the\nperson under investigation and it shall be unlawful for any person participating\nin such investigations to disclose to any other person not participating in such\ninvestigation any information so obtained. Any person violating this subsection\nshall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor and shall be punished in accordance\nwith § 18.2-11. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall not\npreclude the presentation and disclosure of any information obtained pursuant to\nthis section in any suit or action in any court of this Commonwealth wherein it\nis alleged that a violation of § 59.1-200 or 59.1-200.1 has occurred, is\noccurring or may occur, nor shall this section prevent the disclosure of any\nsuch information by the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for a county,\ncity, or town to any federal or state law-enforcement authority that has\nrestrictions governing confidentiality and the use of such information similar\nto those contained in this subsection; however, such disclosures may only be\nmade as to information obtained after July 1, 1979.\n\nF. Upon the failure of a person without lawful excuse to obey an investigative\norder under this section, the attorney for the Commonwealth or attorney for the\ncounty, city, or town may initiate contempt proceedings in the circuit court\nthat issued the order to hold such person in contempt.\n\nG. No information, facts or data obtained through an investigative order shall\nbe admissible in any civil or criminal proceeding other than for the enforcement\nof this chapter and the remedies provided herein.\n\nHISTORY: 1977, c. 635; 1979, c. 493; 1982, c. 13; 1987, c. 464; 1995, c. 703;\n2008, c. 485.","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}}