{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/9.1-502.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/9.1-502.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/9.1-502.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/9.1-502.html"}],"law_id":77705,"edition_id":1,"section_id":77705,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-502","catch_line":"Notice of charges; response; election to proceed under grievance procedure of local governing body","history":"1978, c. 19, \u00a7 2.1-116.4; 1987, c. 461; 2001, c. 844.","full_text":"A\n\nBefore any dismissal, demotion, suspension without pay or transfer for punitive reasons may be imposed, the following rights shall be afforded:1\n\nThe law-enforcement officer shall be notified in writing of all charges, the basis therefor, and the action which may be taken;2\n\nThe law-enforcement officer shall be given an opportunity, within a reasonable time limit after the date of the written notice provided for above, to respond orally and in writing to the charges. The time limit shall be determined by the agency, but in no event shall it be less than five calendar days unless agreed to by the law-enforcement officer;3\n\nIn making his response, the law-enforcement officer may be assisted by counsel at his own expense; and4\n\nThe law-enforcement officer shall be given written notification of his right to initiate a grievance under the grievance procedure established by the local governing body pursuant to §§ 15.2-1506 and 15.2-1507. A copy of the local governing body’s grievance procedure shall be provided to the law-enforcement officer upon his request.B\n\nA law-enforcement officer may proceed under either the local governing body’s grievance procedure or the law-enforcement officer’s procedural guarantees, but not both.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":278720,"text":"Before any dismissal, demotion, suspension without pay or transfer for punitive reasons may be imposed, the following rights shall be afforded:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":278721,"text":"The law-enforcement officer shall be notified in writing of all charges, the basis therefor, and the action which may be taken;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":278722,"text":"The law-enforcement officer shall be given an opportunity, within a reasonable time limit after the date of the written notice provided for above, to respond orally and in writing to the charges. The time limit shall be determined by the agency, but in no event shall it be less than five calendar days unless agreed to by the law-enforcement officer;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":278723,"text":"In making his response, the law-enforcement officer may be assisted by counsel at his own expense; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":278724,"text":"The law-enforcement officer shall be given written notification of his right to initiate a grievance under the grievance procedure established by the local governing body pursuant to §§ 15.2-1506 and 15.2-1507. A copy of the local governing body’s grievance procedure shall be provided to the law-enforcement officer upon his request.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"B"},"5":{"id":278725,"text":"A law-enforcement officer may proceed under either the local governing body’s grievance procedure or the law-enforcement officer’s procedural guarantees, but not both.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A4"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15150,"edition_id":1,"name":"Law-Enforcement Officers Procedural Guarantee Act","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12896,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:52:32","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:52:32","permalink":{"id":285381,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15150,"identifier":"5","token":"9.1\/5","url":"\/9.1\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12896,"edition_id":1,"name":"Commonwealth Public Safety","identifier":"9.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":284487,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12896,"identifier":"9.1","token":"9.1","url":"\/9.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":70463,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-500","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/9.1-500\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-500","metadata":false},{"id":82248,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-501","catch_line":"Conduct of investigation","url":"\/9.1-501\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-501","metadata":false},{"id":77705,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-502","catch_line":"Notice of charges; response; election to proceed under grievance procedure of local governing body","url":"\/9.1-502\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-502","metadata":false},{"id":81606,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-503","catch_line":"Personal assets of officers","url":"\/9.1-503\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-503","metadata":false},{"id":80771,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-504","catch_line":"Hearing; hearing panel recommendations","url":"\/9.1-504\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-504","metadata":false},{"id":57710,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-505","catch_line":"Immediate suspension","url":"\/9.1-505\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-505","metadata":false},{"id":76871,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-506","catch_line":"Informal counseling not prohibited","url":"\/9.1-506\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-506","metadata":false},{"id":69045,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-507","catch_line":"Chapter accords minimum rights; exception","url":"\/9.1-507\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-507","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82248,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-501","catch_line":"Conduct of investigation","url":"\/9.1-501\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-501","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":81606,"structure_id":15150,"section_number":"9.1-503","catch_line":"Personal assets of officers","url":"\/9.1-503\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-503","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/9.1-502\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1978. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 19 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 1978 \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 1987, chapter 461; in 2001, chapter 844<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":80771,"section_number":"9.1-504","catch_line":"Hearing; hearing panel recommendations","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-504\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":57426,"section_number":"15.2-1506","catch_line":"Establishment of grievance procedure, personnel system and uniform pay plan for employees","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1506\/"},{"id":77432,"section_number":"15.2-1507","catch_line":"Provision of grievance procedure; training programs","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1507\/"}],"permalink":{"id":285391,"object_type":"law","relational_id":77705,"identifier":"9.1-502","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-502","url":"\/9.1-502\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/9.1-502\/","token":"9.1\/5\/9.1-502","dublin_core":{"Title":"Notice of charges; response; election to proceed under grievance procedure of local governing body","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 9.1-502","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Before any dismissal<\/span>, demotion, suspension without pay or transfer for punitive reasons may be imposed, the following rights shall be afforded: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> shall be notified in writing of all charges, the basis therefor, and the action which may be taken; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> shall be given an opportunity, within a reasonable time limit after the date of the written notice provided for above, to respond orally and in writing to the charges. The time limit shall be determined by the agency<\/span>, but in no event shall it be less than five calendar days unless agreed to by the law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> In making his response, the law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> may be assisted by counsel<\/span> at his own expense; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> shall be given written notification of his right to initiate a grievance under the grievance procedure established by the local governing body pursuant to §§ 15.2-1506<\/a> and 15.2-1507<\/a>. A copy of the local governing body’s grievance procedure shall be provided to the law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> upon his request. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> may proceed under either the local governing body’s grievance procedure or the law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span>’s procedural guarantees, but not both. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nNOTICE OF CHARGES; RESPONSE; ELECTION TO PROCEED UNDER GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE OF\nLOCAL GOVERNING BODY (\u00a7 9.1-502)\n\nA. Before any dismissal, demotion, suspension without pay or transfer for\npunitive reasons may be imposed, the following rights shall be afforded:\n\n 1. The law-enforcement officer shall be notified in writing of all charges,\n the basis therefor, and the action which may be taken;\n\n 2. The law-enforcement officer shall be given an opportunity, within a\n reasonable time limit after the date of the written notice provided for above,\n to respond orally and in writing to the charges. The time limit shall be\n determined by the agency, but in no event shall it be less than five calendar\n days unless agreed to by the law-enforcement officer;\n\n 3. In making his response, the law-enforcement officer may be assisted by\n counsel at his own expense; and\n\n 4. The law-enforcement officer shall be given written notification of his\n right to initiate a grievance under the grievance procedure established by the\n local governing body pursuant to §§ 15.2-1506 and 15.2-1507. A copy\n of the local governing body’s grievance procedure shall be provided to\n the law-enforcement officer upon his request.\n\nB. A law-enforcement officer may proceed under either the local governing\nbody’s grievance procedure or the law-enforcement officer’s\nprocedural guarantees, but not both.\n\nHISTORY: 1978, c. 19, \u00a7 2.1-116.4; 1987, c. 461; 2001, c. 844.","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}}