                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

RESPONSIBILITY OF SHERIFFS AND JAIL SUPERINTENDENTS FOR FOOD, CLOTHING AND
MEDICINE (§ 53.1-126)

The sheriff or jail superintendent shall purchase at prices as low as reasonably
possible all foodstuffs and other provisions used in the feeding of jail
prisoners and such clothing and medicine as may be necessary. Nothing herein
shall be construed to require a sheriff, jail superintendent or a locality to
pay for the medical treatment of an inmate for any injury, illness, or condition
that existed prior to the inmate&#8217;s commitment to a local or regional
facility, except that medical treatment shall not be withheld for any
communicable diseases, serious medical needs, or life threatening conditions.
Invoices or itemized statements of account from each vendor of such foodstuffs,
provisions, clothing and medicines shall be obtained by the sheriff or jail
superintendent and presented for payment to the governing body of the city or
county or, in the case of regional jails, the regional jail authority or, if
none, that body responsible for the fiscal management of the regional jails,
which shall be responsible for the payment thereof. He shall certify on each
statement or invoice that the merchandise has been received and that the vendor
has complied with the terms of the purchase. Such certification shall be in the
following words: &#8220;I hereby certify that the merchandise or service has
been received and that the terms of the purchase have been complied with on the
part of the vendor. The merchandise or service has been or will be used solely
for the feeding and care of prisoners confined in jail.&#8221; If any county or
city has a purchasing agent, the local governing body may require all such
purchases to be made by or through the purchasing agent.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 53-175; 1982, c. 636; 1991, c. 383; 2003, cc. 928, 1019;
2011, c. 727.