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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>57315</law_id><section_number>9.1-1300</section_number><catch_line>Domestic violence policies and procedures for law-enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth</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="9.1">Commonwealth Public Safety</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="13">Domestic and Sexual Assault Policies</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The Virginia Department of State Police and the police and sheriff&#x2019;s departments of every political subdivision in the Commonwealth shall establish an <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> policy and procedures for domestic violence and family abuse cases. Any local police or sheriff&#x2019;s department is authorized to adopt an <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> policy that prescribes additional requirements under this section. Any policies and procedures established under this section shall at a minimum provide guidance to <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers on the following:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The department&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> policy; <a id="paragraph-209911" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/9.1-1300/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The standards for determining who is the predominant physical aggressor pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Arrest without a warrant authorized in cases of assault and battery against a family or household member and stalking and for violations of protective orders; procedure, etc" href="/19.2-81.3/">19.2-81.3</a>; <a id="paragraph-209912" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/9.1-1300/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The standards for completion of a required incident report to be filed with the department including the existence of any special circumstances which would dictate a course of action other than <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>; <a id="paragraph-209913" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/9.1-1300/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The department&#x2019;s policy on providing transportation to an allegedly abused person; <a id="paragraph-209914" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/9.1-1300/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The legal and community resources available to allegedly abused persons in the department&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>; <a id="paragraph-209915" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/9.1-1300/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The department&#x2019;s policy on domestic violence incidents involving <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers; and <a id="paragraph-209916" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/9.1-1300/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> The department&#x2019;s policy on the handling of cases involving repeat offenders of family abuse or domestic violence. <a id="paragraph-209917" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/9.1-1300/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2008, cc. 600, 771.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
