<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64788</law_id><section_number>19.2-83.6</section_number><catch_line>Failure of a law-enforcement officer to intervene in use of excessive force</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> Any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer who, while in the performance of his official duties, witnesses another <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer engaging or attempting to engage in the use of <span class="dictionary">excessive force</span> against another person shall intervene, when such intervention is feasible, to end the use of <span class="dictionary">excessive force</span> or attempted use of <span class="dictionary">excessive force</span>, or to prevent the further use of <span class="dictionary">excessive force</span>. A <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer shall also render aid, as circumstances reasonably permit, to any person injured as the result of the use of <span class="dictionary">excessive force</span>. <a id="paragraph-235734" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-83.6/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer who intervenes pursuant to subsection A or who witnesses another <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer engaging or attempting to engage in the use of <span class="dictionary">excessive force</span> against another person shall report such intervention or use of <span class="dictionary">excessive force</span> in accordance with the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer&#x2019;s employing agency&#x2019;s policies and procedures for reporting misconduct committed by a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer. No employing agency shall retaliate, threaten to retaliate, or take or threaten to take any disciplinary action against a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer who intervenes pursuant to subsection A or makes a report pursuant to this subsection. <a id="paragraph-235735" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-83.6/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 25, 37.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
