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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58775</law_id><section_number>19.2-152.4:3</section_number><catch_line>Duties and responsibilities of local pretrial services officers</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="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9">Bail and Recognizances</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Pretrial Services Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Each local <span class="dictionary">pretrial services</span> officer, for the <span class="dictionary">jurisdictions</span> served, shall: <a id="paragraph-215369" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Investigate and interview <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> arrested on state and local warrants and who are detained in jails located in <span class="dictionary">jurisdictions</span> served by the agency while awaiting a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> before any <span class="dictionary">court</span> that is considering or reconsidering <span class="dictionary">bail</span>, at initial <span class="dictionary">appearance</span>, advisement or <span class="dictionary">arraignment</span>, or at other subsequent <span class="dictionary">hearings</span>; <a id="paragraph-215370" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Present a pretrial investigation report with recommendations to assist <span class="dictionary">courts</span> in discharging their duties related to granting or reconsidering <span class="dictionary">bail</span>; <a id="paragraph-215371" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Supervise and assist all <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> residing within the <span class="dictionary">jurisdictions</span> served and placed on pretrial supervision by any judicial officer within the <span class="dictionary">jurisdictions</span> to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of <span class="dictionary">bail</span>; <a id="paragraph-215372" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Conduct random drug and alcohol tests on any <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> under supervision for whom a judicial officer has ordered testing or who has been required to refrain from excessive use of alcohol or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance or other <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>-specific condition of <span class="dictionary">bail</span> related to alcohol or substance abuse; <a id="paragraph-215373" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Seek a <span class="dictionary">capias</span> from any judicial officer pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Form of oath of office for local pretrial services officer; authorization to seek capias" href="/19.2-152.4_1/">19.2-152.4:1</a> for any <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> placed under supervision or the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the agency who fails to comply with the conditions of <span class="dictionary">bail</span> or supervision, when continued liberty or noncompliance presents a risk of flight, a risk to public safety or risk to the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>; <a id="paragraph-215374" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Seek an <span class="dictionary">order</span> to show cause why the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> should not be required to appear before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in those cases requiring a subsequent <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> before the <span class="dictionary">court</span>; <a id="paragraph-215375" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Provide <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>-based information to assist any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer with the return to <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> placed on supervision for which a <span class="dictionary">capias</span> has been sought; and <a id="paragraph-215376" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Keep such records and make such reports as required by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. <a id="paragraph-215377" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Each local <span class="dictionary">pretrial services</span> officer, for the <span class="dictionary">jurisdictions</span> served, may provide the following optional services, as appropriate and when available resources permit: <a id="paragraph-215378" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Conduct, subject to <span class="dictionary">court</span> approval, drug and alcohol screenings, or tests at investigation pursuant to subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Release of accused on secured or unsecured bond or promise to appear; conditions of release" href="/19.2-123/">19.2-123</a> or following release to supervision, and conduct or facilitate the preparation of screenings or assessments or both pursuant to state approved protocols; <a id="paragraph-215379" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Facilitate placement of <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> in a substance abuse education or treatment program or services or other education or treatment service, including referral to screening for participation in a behavioral health <span class="dictionary">docket</span> that has been established in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Behavioral Health Docket Act" href="/18.2-254.3/">18.2-254.3</a> as a treatment service, when ordered as a condition of <span class="dictionary">bail</span>; <a id="paragraph-215380" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Sign for the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of any <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> investigated by a <span class="dictionary">pretrial services</span> officer, and released by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> to pretrial supervision as the sole term and condition of <span class="dictionary">bail</span> or when combined with an unsecured <span class="dictionary">bond</span>; <a id="paragraph-215381" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Provide <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> information and investigation services for those who are detained in jails located in <span class="dictionary">jurisdictions</span> served by the agency and are awaiting an initial <span class="dictionary">bail</span> <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> before a <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span>; <a id="paragraph-215382" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Supervise <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> placed by any judicial officer on home electronic monitoring as a condition of <span class="dictionary">bail</span> and supervision; <a id="paragraph-215383" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Prepare, for <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> investigated, the financial statement-eligibility determination form for <span class="dictionary">indigent</span> defense services; and <a id="paragraph-215384" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Subject to approved procedures and if so requested by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, coordinate for <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> investigated, services for <span class="dictionary">court</span>-appointed <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> and for interpreters for foreign-language speaking and deaf or hard of <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> <span class="dictionary">defendants</span>. <a id="paragraph-215385" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-152.4_3/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2003, c. 603; 2007, c. 133; 2008, cc. 551, 691; 2019, c. 288; 2022, c. 327.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
