<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73000</law_id><section_number>19.2-83.5</section_number><catch_line>Use of deadly force by a law-enforcement officer during an arrest or detention</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="7.1">Law-Enforcement Officer Conduct During an Arrest or Detention</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer shall not use <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span> against a person unless: <a id="paragraph-262913" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-83.5/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer reasonably believes that <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span> is immediately necessary to protect the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer or another person, other than the subject of the use of <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span>, from the threat of serious bodily injury or death; <a id="paragraph-262914" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-83.5/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If feasible, the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer has provided a warning to the subject of the <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span> that he will use <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span>; <a id="paragraph-262915" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-83.5/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer&#x2019;s actions are reasonable, given the totality of the circumstances; and <a id="paragraph-262916" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-83.5/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> All other options have been exhausted or do not reasonably lend themselves to the circumstances. <a id="paragraph-262917" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-83.5/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In determining if a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer&#x2019;s use of <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span> is proper, the following factors shall be considered: <a id="paragraph-262918" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-83.5/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The reasonableness of the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer&#x2019;s belief and actions from the perspective of a reasonable <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer on the scene at the time of the incident; and <a id="paragraph-262919" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-83.5/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The totality of the circumstances, including (i) the amount of time available to the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer to make a decision; (ii) whether the subject of the use of <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span> (a) possessed or appeared to possess a <span class="dictionary">deadly weapon</span> and (b) refused to comply with the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer&#x2019;s lawful <span class="dictionary">order</span> to surrender an <span class="dictionary">object</span> believed to be a <span class="dictionary">deadly weapon</span> prior to the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer using <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span>; (iii) whether the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer engaged in de-escalation measures prior to the use of <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span>, including taking cover, waiting for backup, trying to calm the subject prior to the use of force, or using non-<span class="dictionary">deadly force</span> prior to the use of <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span>; (iv) whether any conduct by the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer prior to the use of <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span> intentionally increased the risk of a confrontation resulting in <span class="dictionary">deadly force</span> being used; and (v) the seriousness of the suspected <span class="dictionary">crime</span>. <a id="paragraph-262920" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-83.5/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, Sp. Sess. I, c. 37.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
