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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58231</law_id><section_number>19.2-53</section_number><catch_line>What may be searched and seized</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-53.1</reference><reference>19.2-56</reference><reference>19.2-58</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="5">Search Warrants</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> <span class="dictionary">Search warrants</span> may be issued for the search of or for specified places, things, or persons, and seizure therefrom of the following things as specified in the warrant: <a id="paragraph-213381" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-53/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Weapons or other <span class="dictionary">objects</span> used in the commission of <span class="dictionary">crime</span>; <a id="paragraph-213382" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-53/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Articles or things the sale or <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of which is unlawful; <a id="paragraph-213383" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-53/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Stolen property or the fruits of any <span class="dictionary">crime</span>; <a id="paragraph-213384" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-53/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">object</span>, thing, or person, including (i) documents, (ii) books, (iii) papers, (iv) records, (v) body fluids, or (vi) electronic records stored within or outside the Commonwealth of a commercial enterprise, whether a domestic corporation or a foreign corporation, that is transacting or has transacted any business in the Commonwealth, constituting <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of the commission of <span class="dictionary">crime</span>; or <a id="paragraph-213385" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-53/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Any person to be arrested for whom a warrant or process for <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> has been issued.
				Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter to the contrary, no <span class="dictionary">search warrant</span> may be issued as a substitute for a <span class="dictionary">witness</span> <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span>. <a id="paragraph-213386" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-53/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">search warrant</span> issued for the <span class="dictionary">search and seizure</span> of a computer, computer network, or other device containing electronic or digital information shall be deemed to include the <span class="dictionary">search and seizure</span> of the physical components and the electronic or digital information contained in any such computer, computer network, or other device, except information for which a <span class="dictionary">search warrant</span> is prohibited by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Issuance of search warrant, subpoena, court order, or other process for information related to menstrual health data prohibited" href="/19.2-60.2/">19.2-60.2</a>. <a id="paragraph-213387" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-53/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any search, including the search of the contents of any computer, computer network, or other device conducted pursuant to subsection B, may be conducted in any location and is not limited to the location where the <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> was seized. <a id="paragraph-213388" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-53/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-84; 1960, c. 366; 1962, c. 519; 1966, c. 363; 1970, c. 650; 1974, c. 113; 1975, c. 495; 1981, c. 559; 2015, c. 501; 2017, cc. 233, 242; 2024, cc. 523, 571; 2025, c. 345.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
