<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84077</law_id><section_number>52-8.1</section_number><catch_line>Powers and duties of Bureau of Criminal Investigation</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-309</reference><reference>52-8.2</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="52">Police (State)</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="1">Department of State Police</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In addition to any other powers and duties which may be provided by <span class="dictionary">statute</span> or otherwise, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation shall conduct an investigation into any matter referred to it by the Governor. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation shall, when requested by the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>, any sheriff, chief of police, attorney for the Commonwealth or <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span>, conduct an investigation into the subject matter so directed or requested, if the person or <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> making the request has reasonable cause to believe the acts committed or about to be committed would constitute a Class 1, 2 or 3 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>, to determine whether any such criminal violations have occurred, are occurring or are about to occur. The Bureau may, in all other requests for investigations made by the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>, any sheriff, chief of police, attorney for the Commonwealth or <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span>, conduct an investigation into the subject matter so requested, to determine whether any criminal violations have occurred, are occurring or are about to occur.</p></section></text><history>1974, c. 483; 1975, c. 650; 1980, c. 232.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
