                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

TRANSPORTATION OF PRISONERS (§ 53.1-31.1)

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department shall provide all
transportation to and from court for any prisoner in connection with a crime
committed within a state correctional facility, including a facility operated
pursuant to the Corrections Private Services Act (&#xA7; 53.1-261 et seq.),
unless the affected sheriff and the Department agree on other transportation.
Auxiliary police forces established under &#xA7; 15.2-1731 who have met the
training requirements of &#xA7; 9.1-102, with the concurrence of the sheriff or
other chief law-enforcement officer as appropriate, are specifically authorized
to provide such transportation.

B. Authorized corrections personnel from any other state, the United States, and
any political subdivisions thereof who transport a prisoner through the
Commonwealth, deliver a prisoner to the Commonwealth, or take custody of a
prisoner in the Commonwealth for transport to another jurisdiction are deemed to
have lawful custody of such prisoner while in the Commonwealth.

C. Authorized Virginia corrections personnel who have a need to travel with a
prisoner through or to another state are authorized to travel through such state
and retain authority over such prisoner as allowed by such state.

HISTORY: 2002, c. 240; 2003, c. 154; 2012, c. 827; 2015, c. 99; 2025, c. 337.