                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

USE OF CANINES IN STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; PROHIBITED ACTS; POLICIES AND
REGULATIONS MADE PUBLIC; INCIDENTS OF USE OF CANINES REPORTED; EXCEPTION (§
53.1-39.3)

A. It is unlawful for any correctional officer or other employee of a state
correctional facility who is permitted to handle canines to use a patrol or
security canine in any state correctional facility unless such correctional
officer or other employee (i) reasonably believes that the use of a patrol or
security canine is immediately necessary to protect any prisoner or any officer
or employee from the threat of serious bodily injury or death or (ii) has the
prior approval of the warden or a supervisor to use a patrol or security canine
to intervene in an altercation, fight, or other incident between three or more
prisoners. If feasible, the correctional officer shall provide a warning to the
subject of any canine use of force prior to the deployment of a canine.

B. The Department shall make public any policies and regulations relating to (i)
the use of canines, (ii) training requirements for both canines and the handlers
of such canines, and (iii) the supervision of the officers or employees who are
permitted to handle such canines.

C. The Department shall track all canine uses of force and all incidents in
which canines were present or requested for assistance but no canine use of
force occurred. The information collected shall be reported publicly and made
available on the Department&#8217;s website.

D. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the training or use of
detector canines or detector canine handlers.

E. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the use of a canine
to locate a prisoner who has escaped from a state correctional facility.

HISTORY: 2024, c. 99.