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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63884</law_id><section_number>53.1-145</section_number><catch_line>Powers and duties of probation and parole officers</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-55</reference><reference>19.2-388</reference><reference>53.1-143</reference><reference>53.1-67.9</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="53.1">Prisons and Other Methods of Correction</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="4">Probation and Parole</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">State Probation and Parole Services</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In addition to other powers and duties prescribed by this article, each <span class="dictionary">probation</span> and <span class="dictionary">parole</span> officer shall:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Investigate and report on any case pending in any <span class="dictionary">court</span> or before any <span class="dictionary">judge</span> in his <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> referred to him by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">judge</span>; <a id="paragraph-232684" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Supervise and assist all persons within his territory placed on <span class="dictionary">probation</span>, secure, as appropriate and when available resources permit, placement of such persons in a <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span> program which may include utilization of acupuncture and other treatment modalities, and furnish every such person with a written statement of the conditions of his <span class="dictionary">probation</span> and instruct him therein; if any such person has been committed to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services under the provisions of Chapter 9 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/37.2-900/">37.2-900</a> et seq.) of Title 37.2, the conditions of <span class="dictionary">probation</span> shall include the requirement that the person comply with all conditions given him by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and that he follow all of the terms of his treatment plan; <a id="paragraph-232685" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Supervise and assist all persons within his territory released on <span class="dictionary">parole</span>, secure, as appropriate and when available resources permit, placement of such persons in a <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span> program which may include utilization of acupuncture and other treatment modalities, and, in his discretion, assist any person within his territory who has completed his <span class="dictionary">parole</span> or has been mandatorily released from any correctional facility in the Commonwealth and requests assistance in <span class="dictionary">finding</span> a place to live, <span class="dictionary">finding</span> employment, or in otherwise becoming adjusted to the community; <a id="paragraph-232686" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> <span class="dictionary">Arrest</span> and recommit to the place of confinement from which he was released, or in which he would have been confined but for the suspension of his sentence or of its imposition, for violation of the terms of <span class="dictionary">probation</span> or <span class="dictionary">parole</span>, any probationer supervision or parolee under his supervision, or as directed by the Chairman, <span class="dictionary">Board</span> member or the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, pending a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> or the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, as the case may be; <a id="paragraph-232687" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Keep such records, make such reports, and perform other duties as may be required of him by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">judge</span> by whom he was authorized; <a id="paragraph-232688" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> <span class="dictionary">Order</span> and conduct, in his discretion, drug and alcohol screening tests of any probationer or parolee under his supervision who the officer has reason to believe is engaged in the illegal use of controlled substances or marijuana, or the abuse of alcohol. The cost of the test may be charged to the person under supervision. Regulations governing the officer&#x2019;s exercise of this authority shall be promulgated by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span>; <a id="paragraph-232689" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Have the power to carry a concealed weapon in accordance with regulations promulgated by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> and upon the certification of appropriate training and specific authorization by a <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>; <a id="paragraph-232690" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Provide services in accordance with any <span class="dictionary">contract</span> entered into between the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Corrections and the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Conditional release; criteria; conditions; reports; penalty" href="/37.2-912/">37.2-912</a>; <a id="paragraph-232691" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Pursuant to any <span class="dictionary">contract</span> entered into between the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Corrections and the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, <span class="dictionary">probation</span> and <span class="dictionary">parole</span> officers shall have the power to provide intensive supervision services to persons placed on conditional release, regardless of whether the person has any time remaining to serve on any criminal sentence, pursuant to Chapter 9 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/37.2-900/">37.2-900</a> et seq.); <a id="paragraph-232692" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Determine by reviewing the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Forensic Science DNA data bank sample tracking system upon intake and again prior to release whether a blood, saliva, or tissue sample is stored in the data bank for each person placed on <span class="dictionary">probation</span> or <span class="dictionary">parole</span> required to submit a sample pursuant to Article 1.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Blood, saliva, or tissue sample required for DNA analysis upon conviction of certain crimes; fee" href="/19.2-310.2/">19.2-310.2</a> et seq.) of Chapter 18 of Title 19.2 and, if a person&#x2019;s sample is not stored in the data bank, require the person placed on <span class="dictionary">probation</span> or <span class="dictionary">parole</span> to submit a sample for DNA analysis; <a id="paragraph-232693" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> For every offender accepted pursuant to the Interstate Compact for the Supervision of Adult Offenders (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Enactment of the Interstate Compact for the Supervision of Adult Offenders" href="/53.1-176.1/">53.1-176.1</a> et seq.) who has been convicted of an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> that, if committed in Virginia, would require the offender to submit a sample pursuant to Article 1.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Blood, saliva, or tissue sample required for DNA analysis upon conviction of certain crimes; fee" href="/19.2-310.2/">19.2-310.2</a> et seq.) of Chapter 18 of Title 19.2, take a sample or verify that a sample has been taken and accepted into the data bank for DNA analysis in the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-232694" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="12"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> Monitor the collection and payment of <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> to the victims of <span class="dictionary">crime</span> for offenders placed on supervised <span class="dictionary">probation</span>; <a id="paragraph-232695" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="13"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> Prior to the release from supervision of any offender on <span class="dictionary">probation</span> as of July 1, 2019, review the criminal history record of the offender at least 60 days prior to release from supervision, or immediately if the offender is scheduled to be released from supervision within less than 60 days, to determine whether all <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> for which the offender is being supervised appear on such record and, if any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span> that is required to be reported to the Central Criminal Records Exchange pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reports to be made by local law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, clerks of court, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Corrections officials to State Police; material submitted by other agencies" href="/19.2-390/">19.2-390</a> does not appear, (i) take and provide fingerprints and a photograph of the offender to the Central Criminal Records Exchange to be classified and filed as part of the criminal history record information pursuant to subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reports to be made by local law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, clerks of court, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Corrections officials to State Police; material submitted by other agencies" href="/19.2-390/">19.2-390</a> and (ii) provide written or electronic notification to the Central Criminal Records Exchange within the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of State Police that such <span class="dictionary">offense</span> does not appear on the offender&#x2019;s criminal history record; and <a id="paragraph-232696" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="14"><p><span class="prefix-number">14.</span> Upon intake of any offender on or after July 1, 2019, (i) take and provide fingerprints and a photograph of the offender to the Central Criminal Records Exchange to be classified and filed as part of the criminal history record information pursuant to subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reports to be made by local law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, clerks of court, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Corrections officials to State Police; material submitted by other agencies" href="/19.2-390/">19.2-390</a>, (ii) review the criminal history record of the offender to determine whether all <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> for which the offender is being supervised appear on such record, and (iii) if any such <span class="dictionary">offense</span> that is required to be reported to the Central Criminal Records Exchange pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reports to be made by local law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, clerks of court, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Corrections officials to State Police; material submitted by other agencies" href="/19.2-390/">19.2-390</a> does not appear, provide written or electronic notification to the Central Criminal Records Exchange within the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of State Police that such <span class="dictionary">offense</span> does not appear on the offender&#x2019;s criminal history record.
			Nothing in this article shall require <span class="dictionary">probation</span> and <span class="dictionary">parole</span> officers to investigate or supervise cases before general district or juvenile and domestic relations district <span class="dictionary">courts</span>. <a id="paragraph-232697" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-145/#14"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 53-250; 1970, c. 648; 1973, c. 253; 1974, cc. 44, 45, 240; 1975, c. 630; 1976, c. 39; 1982, c. 636; 1992, cc. 188, 740; 1994, c. 935; 1994, Sp. Sess. II, cc. 1, 2; 1995, cc. 502, 574; 1997, c. 526; 2003, c. 944; 2006, cc. 698, 730, 863, 914; 2007, c. 528; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2011, cc. 384, 410; 2014, cc. 674, 719; 2018, cc. 316, 671; 2019, cc. 782, 783; 2020, c. 759; 2022, cc. 41, 42; 2025, c. 716.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
