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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>71862</law_id><section_number>53.1-149</section_number><catch_line>Arrest of probationer without warrant; written statement; timeframe for service of process</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-390</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 id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">probation officer</span> appointed pursuant to this chapter may <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> a probationer without a warrant, or may deputize any other officer with power to <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> to do so, by a written statement setting forth that the probationer has, in the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of the <span class="dictionary">probation officer</span>, violated one or more of the terms or conditions upon which the probationer was released on probation. Such a written statement by a <span class="dictionary">probation officer</span> delivered to the officer in charge of any local jail or lockup shall be sufficient warrant for the detention of the probationer. Any officer deputized upon receipt of the written statement shall, in accordance with &#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>, enter, or cause to be entered, the person&#x2019;s name and other appropriate information required by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of State Police into the &#x201C;information systems&#x201D; known as the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN), established and maintained by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> pursuant to Chapter 2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Establishment of State Police communication system" href="/52-12/">52-12</a> et seq.) of Title 52. Such information shall be deemed a warrant authorizing the <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> of the person anywhere in the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-258910" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-149/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">probation officer</span> of any probationer arrested pursuant to this section shall forthwith, but in all cases no later than three business days after the <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> of the probationer, (i) submit a copy of any written statement described in subsection A, including all relevant case numbers, to the local attorney for the Commonwealth and the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> for the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> responsible for supervision of the probationer and advise such persons of his <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> and (ii) request the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the sentencing <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to promptly <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a <span class="dictionary">capias</span> or <span class="dictionary">bench warrant</span> for the alleged violation contained in the written statement. <a id="paragraph-258911" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-149/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 53-278.5; 1962, c. 327; 1982, c. 636; 2010, c. 273; 2025, c. 412.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
