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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82147</law_id><section_number>19.2-368.3</section_number><catch_line>Powers and duties of Commission</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-368.11:1</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="21.1">Compensating Victims of Crime</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall have the following powers and duties in the administration of the provisions of this chapter:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To adopt, promulgate, <span class="dictionary">amend</span> and rescind suitable rules and regulations to carry out the provisions and purposes of this chapter, to include a distinct policy (i) for the payment of physical <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> recovery kit examinations, including mileage at a rate provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span> incurred by a sexual <span class="dictionary">assault</span> forensic examiner as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/19.2-11.5/">19.2-11.5</a>, and (ii) to require each health care provider as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/8.01-581.1/">8.01-581.1</a> that provides services under this chapter to negotiate with the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or its designee to establish prospective agreements relating to rates for payment of claims for such services allowed under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Amount of award" href="/19.2-368.11_1/">19.2-368.11:1</a>, such rates to discharge the obligation to the provider in full except where the provider is an agency of the Commonwealth and the <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> receives a third <span class="dictionary">party</span> recovery in addition to the payment from the Fund. <a id="paragraph-294416" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-368.3/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of law-enforcement and criminal records; limitations" href="/2.2-3706/">2.2-3706</a> and <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of law-enforcement records; criminal incident information and certain criminal investigative files; limitations" href="/2.2-3706.1/">2.2-3706.1</a>, to acquire from the attorneys for the Commonwealth, State Police, local police departments, sheriffs&#x2019; departments, and the Chief Medical Examiner such investigative results, information and data as will enable the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to determine if, in <span class="dictionary">fact</span>, a <span class="dictionary">crime</span> was committed or attempted, and the extent, if any, to which the <span class="dictionary">victim</span> or <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> was responsible for his own injury. These data shall include prior adult <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> records and juvenile <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> records of the offender. For such purposes and in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Confidentiality of court records" href="/16.1-305/">16.1-305</a>, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may also acquire from the juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">courts</span> a copy of the <span class="dictionary">order</span> of <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> relating to the <span class="dictionary">crime</span>. The use of any information received by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> pursuant to this subdivision shall be limited to carrying out the purposes set forth in this section, and this information shall be confidential and shall not be disseminated further. The agency from which the information is requested may submit original reports, portions thereof, summaries, or such other configurations of information as will comply with the requirements of this section. <a id="paragraph-294417" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-368.3/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> To hear and determine all claims for awards filed with the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> pursuant to this chapter, and to reinvestigate or reopen cases as the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> deems necessary. <a id="paragraph-294418" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-368.3/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> To require and direct medical examination of <span class="dictionary">victims</span>. <a id="paragraph-294419" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-368.3/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> To hold <span class="dictionary">hearings</span>, administer <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> or affirmations, examine any person under <span class="dictionary">oath</span> or affirmation and to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> summonses requiring the attendance and giving of <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> of witnesses and require the production of any books, papers, documentary or other <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>. The powers provided in this subsection may be delegated by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to any member or employee thereof. <a id="paragraph-294420" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-368.3/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> To take or cause to be taken <span class="dictionary">affidavits</span> or <span class="dictionary">depositions</span> within or without the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-294421" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-368.3/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> To render each year to the Governor and to the General Assembly a written report of its activities. This report shall include a detailed section on all unclaimed <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> collected and disbursed to the <span class="dictionary">victim</span> from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund pursuant to subsection I of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Restitution for property damage or loss; community service" href="/19.2-305.1/">19.2-305.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-294422" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-368.3/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> To accept from the government of the United States grants of federal moneys for disbursement under the provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-294423" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-368.3/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> To collect and disburse unclaimed <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> pursuant to subsection I of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Restitution for property damage or loss; community service" href="/19.2-305.1/">19.2-305.1</a> and develop, in consultation with <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> clerks and the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of Virginia, policies and procedures for the receipt, collection, and disbursement of unclaimed <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> to <span class="dictionary">victims</span> of <span class="dictionary">crime</span>. <a id="paragraph-294424" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-368.3/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> To identify and locate <span class="dictionary">victims</span> of <span class="dictionary">crime</span> for whom <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> owed to such <span class="dictionary">victims</span> has been deposited into the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund pursuant to subsection I of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Restitution for property damage or loss; community service" href="/19.2-305.1/">19.2-305.1</a>. Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of law-enforcement and criminal records; limitations" href="/2.2-3706/">2.2-3706</a> and <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of law-enforcement records; criminal incident information and certain criminal investigative files; limitations" href="/2.2-3706.1/">2.2-3706.1</a>, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may acquire from the attorneys for the Commonwealth, State Police, local police departments, and sheriffs&#x2019; departments such information as will enable the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to identify and locate such <span class="dictionary">victims</span>. The use of any information received by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> pursuant to this subdivision shall be limited to carrying out the purposes set forth in this section, and this information shall be confidential and shall not be disseminated further. <a id="paragraph-294425" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-368.3/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1976, c. 605; 1984, c. 619; 1986, c. 422; 1990, c. 551; 1992, c. 547; 1998, c. 484; 1999, cc. 703, 726; 2008, cc. 203, 251; 2010, c. 780; 2018, cc. 724, 725; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 483; 2025, cc. 529, 538.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
