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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>83751</law_id><section_number>17.1-280</section_number><catch_line>What costs chargeable against prosecutor</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="17.1">Courts of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="2">Clerks, Clerks' Offices and Records</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">Fees</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>If any <span class="dictionary">warrant of arrest</span> for a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> or <span class="dictionary">felony</span>, or any <span class="dictionary">search warrant</span>, is issued or procured at the instance of a prosecutor, other than a public officer charged with the enforcement of the <span class="dictionary">laws</span>, and the warrant is dismissed or the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> discharged from the charge or charges, the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> before whom the proceeding is held may give <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> against the prosecutor in favor of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> for his costs. If the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> believes from the <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the warrant was procured by the prosecutor through <span class="dictionary">malice</span> or without reasonable and <span class="dictionary">probable cause</span>, the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> shall grant <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> in favor of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> for his costs.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 14-140; 1960, c. 369; 1964, c. 386, &#xA7; 14.1-131; 1998, c. 872.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
