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:
"Arrest records" 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.
"Investigative records" 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.
"Noncriminal incidents records" means compilations of noncriminal occurrences of general interest to law-enforcement agencies, such as missing persons, lost and found property, suicides and accidental deaths.
"Personnel records" means those records maintained on each and every individual employed by a law-enforcement agency which reflect personal data concerning the employee's age, length of service, amount of training, education, compensation level, and other pertinent personal information.
"Reportable incidents records" means a compilation of complaints received by a law-enforcement agency and action taken by the agency in response thereto.
1975, c. 290, § 15.1-135.1; 1979, c. 686; 1981, c. 284; 1997, c. 587; 1999, cc. 703, 726.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 17 - Police and Public Order
§ 15.2-1700. Preservation of peace and good order
§ 15.2-1701. Organization of police forces
§ 15.2-1702. Referendum required prior to establishment of county police force
§ 15.2-1703. Referendum to abolish county police force
§ 15.2-1704. Powers and duties of police force
§ 15.2-1705. Minimum qualifications; waiver
§ 15.2-1707. Decertification of law-enforcement officers
§ 15.2-1708. Notice of decertification
§ 15.2-1710. Fees and other compensation
§ 15.2-1710.1. Arrest or summons quota prohibited
§ 15.2-1712. Employment of off-duty officers
§ 15.2-1713. Localities authorized to offer and pay rewards in felony and misdemeanor cases
§ 15.2-1713.1. Local "Crime Stoppers" programs; confidentiality
§ 15.2-1714. Establishing police lines, perimeters, or barricades
§ 15.2-1715. Authority to declare Intensified Drug Enforcement Jurisdictions; expenditure of funds
§ 15.2-1716. Reimbursement of expenses incurred in responding to DUI and related incidents
§ 15.2-1716.2. Methamphetamine lab cleanup costs; localities may charge for reimbursement
§ 15.2-1717. Preventing interference with pupils at schools
§ 15.2-1717.1. Designation of police to enforce trespass violations
§ 15.2-1718. Receipt of missing child reports
§ 15.2-1718.1. Receipt of missing senior adult reports
§ 15.2-1718.2. Receipt of critically missing adult reports
§ 15.2-1719. Disposal of unclaimed property in possession of sheriff or police
§ 15.2-1721. Disposal of unclaimed firearms or other weapons in possession of sheriff or police
§ 15.2-1721.1. Acquisition of military property by localities
§ 15.2-1722. Certain records to be kept by sheriffs and chiefs of police
§ 15.2-1722.1. Prohibited practices; collection of data
§ 15.2-1723. Validation of certain police forces
§ 15.2-1723.1. Body-worn camera system
§ 15.2-1723.2. (Effective until July 1, 2026) Facial recognition technology; approval; penalty
§ 15.2-1723.2. (Effective July 1, 2026) Facial recognition technology; approval
§ 15.2-1724. Police and other officers may be sent beyond territorial limits
§ 15.2-1725.1. Concurrent jurisdiction; limitations
§ 15.2-1727. Reciprocal agreements with localities outside the Commonwealth
§ 15.2-1728. Mutual aid agreements between police departments and federal authorities
§ 15.2-1730. Calling upon law-enforcement officers of counties, cities or towns for assistance
§ 15.2-1730.1. Authority and immunity of sheriffs and deputies
§ 15.2-1731. Establishment, etc., authorized; powers, authority and immunities generally
§ 15.2-1732. Appropriations for equipment and maintenance
§ 15.2-1735. Acting beyond limits of jurisdiction of locality
§ 15.2-1736. Mutual aid agreements among governing bodies of localities
§ 15.2-1747. Creation of academies
§ 15.2-1748. Powers of the academies
§ 15.2-1750. Governmental units authorized to appropriate or lend funds
§ 15.2-1751. Exemption from taxation