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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>60251</law_id><section_number>19.2-45</section_number><catch_line>Powers enumerated</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="3">Magistrates</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Jurisdiction and Powers</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>A <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span> shall have the following powers only:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To <span class="dictionary">issue</span> process of <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> in accord with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Who may issue process of arrest" href="/19.2-71/">19.2-71</a> to <a class="law" title="Procedure upon arrest without warrant" href="/19.2-82/">19.2-82</a> of the Code; <a id="paragraph-220343" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-45/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To <span class="dictionary">issue</span> <span class="dictionary">search warrants</span> in accord with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="When search warrant may issue" href="/19.2-52/">19.2-52</a> to <a class="law" title="Motion for return of seized property and to suppress" href="/19.2-60/">19.2-60</a> of the Code; <a id="paragraph-220344" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-45/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> To admit to <span class="dictionary">bail</span> or commit to jail all persons charged with <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> subject to the limitations of and in accord with general <span class="dictionary">laws</span> on <span class="dictionary">bail</span>; <a id="paragraph-220345" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-45/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The same power to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> warrants and <span class="dictionary">subpoenas</span> as is conferred upon district <span class="dictionary">courts</span> and as limited by the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Who may issue process of arrest" href="/19.2-71/">19.2-71</a> through <a class="law" title="Procedure upon arrest without warrant" href="/19.2-82/">19.2-82</a>. A copy of all <span class="dictionary">felony</span> warrants issued at the request of a citizen shall be promptly delivered to the attorney for the Commonwealth for the county or city in which the warrant is returnable. Upon the request of the attorney for the Commonwealth, a copy of any <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> warrant issued at the request of a citizen shall be delivered to the attorney for the Commonwealth for such county or city. All <span class="dictionary">attachments</span>, warrants and <span class="dictionary">subpoenas</span> shall be returnable before a district <span class="dictionary">court</span>; <a id="paragraph-220346" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-45/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> To <span class="dictionary">issue</span> civil warrants directed to the sheriff or constable of the county or city wherein the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> resides, together with a copy thereof, requiring him to summon the person against whom the claim is, to appear before a district <span class="dictionary">court</span> on a certain day, not exceeding 30 days from the date thereof to answer such claim. If there be two or more <span class="dictionary">defendants</span> and any <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> resides outside the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in which the warrant is issued, the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> for such <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> residing outside the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> may be directed to the sheriff of the county or city of his residence, and such warrant may be served and returned as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service of warrant and return thereof" href="/16.1-80/">16.1-80</a>; <a id="paragraph-220347" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-45/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> To administer <span class="dictionary">oaths</span> and take acknowledgments; <a id="paragraph-220348" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-45/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> To act as conservators of the peace;
			(8), (9) [Repealed.] <a id="paragraph-220349" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-45/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> To perform such other acts or functions specifically authorized by <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-220350" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-45/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-394; 1973, c. 545; 1974, c. 484; 1975, c. 495; 1976, c. 471; 1977, c. 332; 1978, cc. 500, 605; 1985, c. 77; 2007, cc. 122, 373; 2008, cc. 551, 691; 2009, cc. 291, 344; 2018, c. 164.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
