                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

CERTAIN RECORDS TO BE KEPT BY SHERIFFS AND CHIEFS OF POLICE (§ 15.2-1722)

A. It shall be the duty of the sheriff or chief of police of every locality to
insure, in addition to other records required by law, the maintenance of
adequate personnel, arrest, investigative, reportable incidents, and noncriminal
incidents records necessary for the efficient operation of a law-enforcement
agency. Failure of a sheriff or a chief of police to maintain such records or
failure to relinquish such records to his successor in office shall constitute a
misdemeanor. Former sheriffs or chiefs of police shall be allowed access to such
files for preparation of a defense in any suit or action arising from the
performance of their official duties as sheriff or chief of police. The
enforcement of this section shall be the duty of the attorney for the
Commonwealth of the county or city wherein the violation occurs.

B. For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
			&#8220;Arrest records&#8221; means a compilation of information, centrally
maintained in law-enforcement custody, of any arrest or temporary detention of
an individual, including the identity of the person arrested or detained, the
nature of the arrest or detention, and the charge, if any.
			&#8220;Investigative records&#8221; means the reports of any systematic
inquiries or examinations into criminal or suspected criminal acts which have
been committed, are being committed, or are about to be committed.
			&#8220;Noncriminal incidents records&#8221; means compilations of noncriminal
occurrences of general interest to law-enforcement agencies, such as missing
persons, lost and found property, suicides and accidental deaths.
			&#8220;Personnel records&#8221; means those records maintained on each and
every individual employed by a law-enforcement agency which reflect personal
data concerning the employee&#8217;s age, length of service, amount of training,
education, compensation level, and other pertinent personal information.
			&#8220;Reportable incidents records&#8221; means a compilation of complaints
received by a law-enforcement agency and action taken by the agency in response
thereto.

HISTORY: 1975, c. 290, § 15.1-135.1; 1979, c. 686; 1981, c. 284; 1997, c. 587;
1999, cc. 703, 726.