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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85173</law_id><section_number>19.2-265.01</section_number><catch_line>Victims, certain members of the family and support persons not to be excluded</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-11.01</reference><reference>19.2-265.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="15">Trial and Its Incidents</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Miscellaneous Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>During the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of every criminal case and in all <span class="dictionary">court</span> proceedings attendant to <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, whether before, during or after <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, including any proceedings occurring after an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> by the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> or the Commonwealth, at which attendance by the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is permitted, whether in a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> or district <span class="dictionary">court</span>, any victim as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Crime victim and witness rights" href="/19.2-11.01/">19.2-11.01</a> may remain in the courtroom and shall not be excluded unless the <span class="dictionary">court</span> determines, in its discretion, the presence of the victim would impair the conduct of a fair <span class="dictionary">trial</span>. In any case involving a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> victim, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may permit an adult chosen by the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> to be present in the courtroom during any proceedings in addition to or in lieu of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s parent or guardian.
		The attorney for the Commonwealth shall give prior notice when practicable of such <span class="dictionary">trial</span> and attendant proceedings and changes in the scheduling thereof to any known victim and to any known adult chosen in accordance with this section by a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> victim, at the address or telephone number, or both, provided in writing by such person.</p></section></text><history>1993, cc. 447, 452; 1994, cc. 361, 598; 1995, c. 687; 1996, c. 546; 1999, c. 844; 2000, c. 339.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
