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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>70900</law_id><section_number>19.2-398</section_number><catch_line>When appeal by the Commonwealth allowed</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-1627</reference><reference>17.1-402</reference><reference>17.1-408</reference><reference>17.1-410</reference><reference>19.2-400</reference><reference>19.2-401</reference><reference>19.2-402</reference><reference>19.2-403</reference><reference>19.2-406</reference><reference>19.2-407</reference><reference>19.2-408</reference><reference>2.2-511</reference><reference>8.01-675.3</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="25">Appeals by the Commonwealth</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> case a pretrial <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> from a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> may be taken by the Commonwealth from: <a id="paragraph-255665" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-398/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> An <span class="dictionary">order</span> of a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> dismissing a warrant, information or <span class="dictionary">indictment</span>, or any count or charge thereof on the ground that (i) the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> was deprived of a <span class="dictionary">speedy trial</span> in violation of the provisions of the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of Virginia, or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Limitation on prosecution of felony due to lapse of time after finding of probable cause; misdemeanors; exceptions" href="/19.2-243/">19.2-243</a>; or (ii) the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> would be twice placed in jeopardy in violation of the provisions of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States or Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of Virginia; or <a id="paragraph-255666" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-398/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> An <span class="dictionary">order</span> of a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> prohibiting the use of certain <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> at trial on the grounds such <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> was obtained in violation of the provisions of the Fourth, Fifth or Sixth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States or Article I, Section 8, 10 or 11 of the Constitution of Virginia prohibiting illegal searches and seizures and protecting rights against self-incrimination, provided the Commonwealth certifies that the <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> is not taken for purpose of delay and that the <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> is substantial proof of a <span class="dictionary">fact</span> <span class="dictionary">material</span> in the proceeding. <a id="paragraph-255667" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-398/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> may be taken by the Commonwealth in a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> case from any <span class="dictionary">order</span> of release on conditions pursuant to Article 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/19.2-119/">19.2-119</a> et seq.) of Chapter 9 of this title. <a id="paragraph-255668" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-398/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> may be taken by the Commonwealth in a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> case after <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> where the sentence imposed by the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> is contrary to mandatory sentencing or <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> terms required by <span class="dictionary">statute</span>. <a id="paragraph-255669" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-398/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Nothing in this chapter shall affect the Commonwealth&#x2019;s right to <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> in civil matters or cases involving a violation of <span class="dictionary">law</span> relating to the state revenue or <span class="dictionary">appeals</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Review by the Supreme Court" href="/17.1-411/">17.1-411</a> or subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="When writ of error lies in criminal case for accused; when for Commonwealth; when for county, city or town" href="/19.2-317/">19.2-317</a>. <a id="paragraph-255670" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-398/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A pretrial <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> may be taken in any criminal case from an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> dismissing a warrant, information, <span class="dictionary">summons</span>, delinquency <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, or <span class="dictionary">indictment</span>, or any count or charge thereof, on the ground that a <span class="dictionary">statute</span> or local <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> on which the <span class="dictionary">order</span> is based is unconstitutional. <a id="paragraph-255671" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-398/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1985, c. 510; 1987, c. 710; 1998, c. 251; 1999, cc. 829, 846; 2002, cc. 611, 692; 2003, c. 109; 2005, cc. 622, 694; 2006, cc. 571, 876.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
