A. Except as otherwise provided by law, the prosecution of a criminal case shall be had in the county or city in which the offense was committed. Except as to motions for a change of venue, all other questions of venue must be raised before verdict in cases tried by a jury and before the finding of guilty in cases tried by the court without a jury.
B. If an offense has been committed within the Commonwealth and it cannot readily be determined within which county or city the offense was committed, venue for the prosecution of the offense may be had in the county or city (i) in which the defendant resides; (ii) if the defendant is not a resident of the Commonwealth, in which the defendant is apprehended; or (iii) if the defendant is not a resident of the Commonwealth and is not apprehended in the Commonwealth, in which any related offense was committed.
C. The courts of a locality shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the courts of any other locality adjoining such locality over criminal offenses committed in or upon the premises, buildings, rooms, or offices owned or occupied by such locality or any officer, agency, or department thereof that are located in the adjoining locality.
1975, c. 495; 2015, cc. 632, 637; 2018, c. 164.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 19.2 - Criminal Procedure
Chapter 15 - Trial and Its Incidents
§ 19.2-239. Jurisdiction in criminal cases
§ 19.2-240. Clerks shall make out criminal docket; transportation orders
§ 19.2-241. Time within which court to set criminal cases for trial
§ 19.2-242. Accused discharged from jail if not indicted in time
§ 19.2-245.01. Offenses involving reports or statements concerning cigarette sales or stamping
§ 19.2-245.1. Forgery; where prosecuted
§ 19.2-245.2. Tax offenses; where prosecuted
§ 19.2-246. Injury inflicted by person within Commonwealth upon one outside Commonwealth
§ 19.2-247. Venue in certain homicide cases
§ 19.2-248. Venue when mortal wound, etc., inflicted in one county and death ensues in another
§ 19.2-249.1. Offenses committed within towns situated in two or more counties; where prosecuted
§ 19.2-249.2. Venue for prosecution of computer and other crimes
§ 19.2-250. How far jurisdiction of corporate authorities extends
§ 19.2-251. When and how venue may be changed
§ 19.2-253. Procedure upon and after change of venue
§ 19.2-254.1. Procedure in traffic infraction cases
§ 19.2-254.2. Procedure in nontraffic offenses for which prepayment is authorized
§ 19.2-255. Defendant allowed to plead several matters of law or fact
§ 19.2-257. Trial without jury in felony cases
§ 19.2-258. Trial of misdemeanors by court without jury; failure to appear deemed waiver of jury
§ 19.2-258.1. Trial of traffic infractions; measure of proof; failure to appear
§ 19.2-260. Provisions of Title 8.01 apply except as provided in this article
§ 19.2-261. Charging grand jury in presence of person selected as juror
§ 19.2-262.1. Joinder of defendants
§ 19.2-262.01. Voir dire examination of persons called as jurors
§ 19.2-263.1. Contact between judge and juror prohibited
§ 19.2-263.2. Jury instructions
§ 19.2-263.3. Juror information confidential
§ 19.2-264.6. through 19.2-264.14
§ 19.2-265. Opening statement of counsel
§ 19.2-265.01. Victims, certain members of the family and support persons not to be excluded
§ 19.2-265.2. Judicial notice of laws (Supreme Court Rule 2:202 derived in part from this section)
§ 19.2-265.3. Nolle prosequi; discretion of court upon good cause shown
§ 19.2-265.4. Failure to provide discovery
§ 19.2-265.5. Prosecuting misdemeanor cases without attorney
§ 19.2-266.1. Conviction of lesser offense on indictment for homicide
§ 19.2-266.2. Defense objections to be raised before trial; hearing; bill of particulars