dcrodriguez/Code-of-Virginia huggingface dataset:
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.1:1 (Virginia Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative (Codi) Alert Program)
§ 52-34.3:1. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative Agreement" or "Codi Agreement" means the voluntary agreement between law-enforcement officials and members of the media whereby a child will be declared missing or endangered and the public will be notified, and includes all other incidental conditions of the partnership as found appropriate by the Virginia State Police.

"Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative Alert" or "Codi Alert" means the notice of a missing or endangered child provided to the public by the media or other methods under a Codi Agreement.

"Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative Alert Program" or "Codi Alert Program" or "Program" means the procedures and Codi Agreements to aid in the identification and location of missing or endangered children.

"Media" means print, radio, television, and Internet-based communication systems or other methods of communicating information to the public.

"Missing or endangered child" means a child (i) who is 17 years of age or younger or is currently enrolled in a secondary school in the Commonwealth, regardless of age; (ii) whose whereabouts are unknown; and (iii) whose disappearance is under suspicious circumstances or poses a credible threat as determined by law enforcement to the safety and health of the child and under such other circumstances as deemed appropriate by the Virginia State Police.

2024, cc. 658, 667.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.1:1 (Virginia Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative (Codi) Alert Program)
§ 52-34.3:2. Establishment of the Virginia Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative (Codi) Alert Program.
The Virginia State Police shall develop, in consultation with representatives of local law-enforcement agencies, including representatives from the Virginia Sheriffs' Association and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, policies for the establishment of uniform standards for the creation of Codi Alert Programs throughout the Commonwealth. Codi Alert Programs may be local, regional, or statewide. They may include multiple localities or regions and may be expanded or compressed. The Virginia State Police may (i) inform local law-enforcement officials of the policies and procedures for the Codi Alert Programs set by the Virginia State Police, (ii) assist in determining the geographic scope of a particular Codi Alert, and (iii) establish procedures and standards by which a local law-enforcement agency may verify a child is missing or endangered and report such information to the Virginia State Police.

The establishment of a Codi Alert Program by a locality and the media is voluntary, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to be a mandate that local officials or the media establish or participate in a Codi Alert Program. Existing Codi Agreements and Codi Alert Programs shall not be altered by the act of assembly creating this chapter.

2024, cc. 658, 667.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.1:1 (Virginia Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative (Codi) Alert Program)
§ 52-34.3:3. Activation of the Virginia Critical Operation for a Disappeared Child Initiative (Codi) Alert Program upon incident of a missing or endangered child.
A. Upon receipt of a notice of a missing or endangered child from a law-enforcement agency, the Virginia State Police shall confirm the accuracy of the information and provide assistance in the implementation of the Codi Alert Program as the investigation dictates.

B. Codi Alerts may be local, regional, or statewide. The initial decision to make a local or regional Codi Alert shall be at the discretion of the local or regional law-enforcement officials. Prior to making a local or regional Codi Alert, the local or regional law-enforcement officials shall confer with the Virginia State Police and provide information regarding the missing or endangered child to the Virginia State Police. The initial decision to make a statewide Codi Alert shall be at the discretion of the Virginia State Police. The Missing Children Information Clearinghouse operated by the Virginia State Police shall serve as a central repository for information related to a missing or endangered child.

C. In those situations where appropriate, the Virginia State Police shall send the Codi Alert to Virginia's emergency alert system. Participating media are encouraged to issue the Codi Alert at designated intervals as specified by the Codi Alert Program.

D. In those situations where appropriate and an existing system is available, the Virginia State Police shall contact the operator of the existing automatic dialing-announcing device system to target residents in the geographic location where the missing or endangered child was most recently seen. For purposes of this section, "automatic dialing-announcing device system" means a device that (i) selects and dials telephone numbers and (ii) working alone or in conjunction with other equipment, disseminates a prerecorded or synthesized voice message to the telephone number called.

E. The Codi Alert shall include such information as the law-enforcement agency deems appropriate that will assist in the safe recovery of the missing or endangered child.

F. The Codi Alert shall be canceled under the terms of the Codi Agreement. Any local law-enforcement agency that locates a child who is the subject of a Codi Alert shall notify the Virginia State Police immediately that the child has been located.

2024, cc. 658, 667.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.2 (VIRGINIA SENIOR ALERT PROGRAM)
§ 52-34.4. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:

"Media" means print, radio, television, and Internet-based communication systems or other methods of communicating information to the public.

"Missing senior adult" means an adult whose whereabouts are unknown and who is over 60 years of age and suffers a cognitive impairment to the extent that he is unable to provide care to himself without assistance from a caregiver, including a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease or dementia, and whose disappearance poses a credible threat as determined by a law-enforcement agency to the health and safety of the adult and under such other circumstances as deemed appropriate by the Virginia State Police.

"Senior alert" means the notice of a missing senior adult provided to the public by the media or other methods under a Senior Alert Agreement.

"Senior Alert Agreement" means a voluntary agreement between law-enforcement officials and members of the media whereby a senior adult will be declared missing, and the public will be notified by media outlets, and includes all other incidental conditions of the partnership as found appropriate by the Virginia State Police.

"Senior Alert Program" or "Program" means the procedures and Senior Alert Agreements to aid in the identification and location of a missing senior adult.

2007, cc. 486, 723.

Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.2 (VIRGINIA SENIOR ALERT PROGRAM)
§ 52-34.5. Establishment of the Virginia Senior Alert Program.
The Virginia State Police shall develop policies for the establishment of uniform standards for the creation of Senior Alert Programs throughout the Commonwealth. The Virginia State Police shall (i) inform local law-enforcement officials of the policies and procedures to be used for the Senior Alert Programs; (ii) assist in determining the geographic scope of a particular Senior Alert; and (iii) establish procedures and standards by which a local law-enforcement agency shall verify that a senior adult is missing and shall report such information to the Virginia State Police.

The establishment of a Senior Alert Program by a local law-enforcement agency and the media is voluntary, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to be a mandate that local officials or the media establish or participate in a Senior Alert Program.

2007, cc. 486, 723.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.2 (VIRGINIA SENIOR ALERT PROGRAM)
§ 52-34.6. Activation of Senior Alert Program upon an incident of a missing senior adult.
A. Upon receipt of a notice of a missing senior adult from a law-enforcement agency, the Virginia State Police shall confirm the accuracy of the information and provide assistance in the activation of the Senior Alert Program as the investigation dictates.

B. Senior Alerts may be local, regional, or statewide. The initial decision to make a local Senior Alert shall be at the discretion of the local law-enforcement official. Prior to making a local Senior Alert, the local law-enforcement official shall confer with the Virginia State Police and provide information regarding the missing senior adult to the Virginia State Police. The decision to make a regional or statewide Senior Alert shall be at the discretion of the Virginia State Police.

C. The Senior Alert shall include the missing senior adult information as defined in § 15.2-1718.1 and any other such information as the law-enforcement agency deems appropriate that will assist in the safe recovery of the missing senior adult.

D. The Senior Alert shall be cancelled under the terms of the Senior Alert Agreement. Any local law-enforcement agency that locates a missing senior adult who is the subject of an alert shall notify the Virginia State Police immediately that the missing senior adult has been located.

2007, cc. 486, 723.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.3 (VIRGINIA BLUE ALERT PROGRAM)
§ 52-34.7. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Law-enforcement agency" means a law-enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the search for a suspect in a case involving the death or serious injury of a law-enforcement officer or an agency employing a law-enforcement officer who is missing in the line of duty.

"Law-enforcement officer" means any full-time or part-time employee of the Department of State Police or a police department or sheriff's office that is a part of or administered by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, and any campus police officer appointed under Article 3 (§ 23.1-809 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1, who is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the penal, traffic, or highway laws of the Commonwealth.

2011, c. 669; 2012, c. 776.

Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.3 (VIRGINIA BLUE ALERT PROGRAM)
§ 52-34.8. Establishment of the Virginia Blue Alert Program.
The Department of State Police shall establish a Blue Alert Program in the Commonwealth and develop policies for its implementation. The Blue Alert Program may be activated when a suspect for a crime involving the death or serious injury of a law-enforcement officer has not been apprehended and may be a serious threat to the public or when a law-enforcement officer is missing while in the line of duty under circumstances warranting concern for the law-enforcement officer's safety. The Department of State Police shall (i) establish procedures and standards by which a local law-enforcement agency may assess whether the conditions for a Blue Alert have been met and report such information to the Department of State Police, (ii) inform local law-enforcement officials of the policies and procedures for the Blue Alert Program set by the Department, and (iii) assist in determining the geographic scope of a particular Blue Alert.

2011, c. 669.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.3 (VIRGINIA BLUE ALERT PROGRAM)
§ 52-34.9. Activation of Blue Alert Program.
A. Upon notification by a law-enforcement agency that a suspect in a case involving the death or serious injury of a law-enforcement officer has not been apprehended and may be a serious threat to the public, the Department of State Police shall confirm that (i) a suspect has not been apprehended, (ii) the suspect may be a serious threat to the public, and (iii) sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the suspect.

B. Upon notification by a law-enforcement agency that a law-enforcement officer is missing while in the line of duty under circumstances warranting concern for such law-enforcement officer's safety, the Department of State Police shall confirm this information and determine whether sufficient information is available to disseminate to the public that could assist in locating the missing law-enforcement officer.

C. Upon verification that conditions set forth in subsection A or B have been met, the Department of State Police shall activate the Blue Alert Program.

D. The area of the alert may be less than statewide if the Department of State Police determines that the nature of the event makes it probable that the suspect did not leave a certain geographic location or if the nature of the event makes it probable that the missing law-enforcement officer is within a certain geographic location. The Department of State Police shall assess the appropriate boundaries for the alert based on the nature of the suspect, the circumstances surrounding the crime or the last known location of the missing law-enforcement officer.

E. The Blue Alert shall include such information as the Department of State Police deems appropriate that will assist in the apprehension of the suspect or the locating of the missing law-enforcement officer.

F. A law-enforcement agency shall notify the Department of State Police immediately when the suspect is located or the law-enforcement officer is found or the incident is otherwise resolved.

G. The Department of State Police shall terminate any activation of the Blue Alert Program with respect to a particular incident if (i) the suspect or law-enforcement officer is located or the incident is otherwise resolved or (ii) the Department of State Police determines that the Blue Alert Program is no longer an effective tool for locating the suspect or law-enforcement officer.

2011, c. 669.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.4 (Virginia Critically Missing Adult Alert Program)
§ 52-34.10. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:

"Critically missing adult" means an adult, including an adult who has a developmental disability, intellectual disability, or mental illness as those terms are defined in § 37.2-100, 18 years of age or older whose whereabouts are unknown and whose disappearance poses a credible threat as determined by a law-enforcement agency to the health and safety of the adult and under such other circumstances as deemed appropriate by the Virginia State Police.

"Critically missing adult alert" means the notice of a critically missing adult provided to the public by the media or other methods under a Critically Missing Adult Alert Agreement.

"Critically Missing Adult Alert Agreement" means a voluntary agreement between law-enforcement officials and members of the media whereby an adult will be declared missing, and the public will be notified by media outlets, and includes all other incidental conditions of the partnership as found appropriate by the Virginia State Police.

"Critically Missing Adult Alert Program" means the procedures and Critically Missing Adult Alert Agreements to aid in the identification and location of a critically missing adult.

"Media" means print, radio, television, and Internet-based communication systems or other methods of communicating information to the public.

2018, c. 397; 2022, cc. 394, 395.

Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.4 (Virginia Critically Missing Adult Alert Program)
§ 52-34.11. Establishment of the Virginia Critically Missing Adult Alert Program.
The Virginia State Police shall develop policies for the establishment of uniform standards for the creation of Critically Missing Adult Alert Programs throughout the Commonwealth. The Virginia State Police shall (i) inform local law-enforcement officials of the policies and procedures to be used for the Critically Missing Adult Alert Programs; (ii) assist in determining the geographic scope of a particular Critically Missing Adult Alert; and (iii) establish procedures and standards by which a local law-enforcement agency shall verify that an adult is a critically missing adult and shall report such information to the Virginia State Police.

The establishment of a Critically Missing Adult Alert Program by a local law-enforcement agency and the media is voluntary, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to be a mandate that local officials or the media establish or participate in a Critically Missing Adult Alert Program.

2018, c. 397.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.4 (Virginia Critically Missing Adult Alert Program)
§ 52-34.12. Activation of Critically Missing Adult Alert Program upon an incident of a critically missing adult.
A. Upon receipt of a notice of a critically missing adult from a law-enforcement agency, the Virginia State Police shall confirm the accuracy of the information and provide assistance in the activation of the Critically Missing Adult Alert Program as the investigation dictates.

B. Critically Missing Adult Alerts may be local, regional, or statewide. The initial decision to make a local Critically Missing Adult Alert shall be at the discretion of the local law-enforcement official. Prior to making a local Critically Missing Adult Alert, the local law-enforcement official shall confer with the Virginia State Police and provide information regarding the critically missing adult to the Virginia State Police. The decision to make a regional or statewide Critically Missing Adult Alert shall be at the discretion of the Virginia State Police.

C. The Critically Missing Adult Alert shall include the critically missing adult information as defined in § 15.2-1718.2 and any other such information as the law-enforcement agency deems appropriate that will assist in the safe recovery of the critically missing adult.

D. The Critically Missing Adult Alert shall be cancelled under the terms of the Critically Missing Adult Alert Agreement. Any local law-enforcement agency that locates a critically missing adult who is the subject of an alert shall notify the Virginia State Police immediately that the critically missing adult has been located.

2018, c. 397.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.5 (Virginia Missing Person with Autism Alert Program)
§ 52-34.13. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Media" means print, radio, television, and Internet-based communication systems or other methods of communicating information to the public.

"Missing person with autism" means any person (i) whose whereabouts are unknown; (ii) who has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as defined in § 38.2-3418.17; and (iii) whose disappearance poses a credible threat as determined by law enforcement to the safety and health of the person and under such other circumstances as deemed appropriate by the Virginia State Police.

"Missing Person with Autism Alert" means the notice of a missing person with autism provided to the public by the media or other methods under a Missing Person with Autism Alert Agreement.

"Missing Person with Autism Alert Agreement" means a voluntary agreement between law-enforcement officials and members of the media whereby a person with autism will be declared missing, and the public will be notified by media outlets, and includes all other incidental conditions of the partnership as found appropriate by the Virginia State Police.

"Virginia Missing Person with Autism Alert Program" or "Program" means the procedures and Missing Person with Autism Alert Agreements to aid in the identification and location of a missing person with autism.

2020, c. 19; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 189.

Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.5 (Virginia Missing Person with Autism Alert Program)
§ 52-34.14. Establishment of the Virginia Missing Person with Autism Alert Program.
The Virginia State Police shall develop policies for the establishment of uniform standards for the creation of Virginia Missing Person with Autism Alert Programs throughout the Commonwealth. The Virginia State Police shall (i) inform local law-enforcement officials of the policies and procedures to be used for the Missing Person with Autism Alert Programs; (ii) assist in determining the geographic scope of a particular Missing Person with Autism Alert; and (iii) establish procedures and standards by which a local law-enforcement agency shall verify that a person with autism is missing and shall report such information to the Virginia State Police.

The establishment of a Missing Person with Autism Alert Program by a local law-enforcement agency and the media is voluntary, and nothing in this chapter shall be construed to be a mandate that local officials or the media establish or participate in a Missing Person with Autism Alert Program.

2020, c. 19; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 189.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.5 (Virginia Missing Person with Autism Alert Program)
§ 52-34.15. Activation of Virginia Missing Person with Autism Alert Program upon incident of a missing person with autism.
A. Upon receipt of a notice of a missing person with autism from a law-enforcement agency, the Virginia State Police shall confirm the accuracy of the information and provide assistance in the activation of the Missing Person with Autism Alert Program as the investigation dictates.

B. Missing Person with Autism Alerts may be local, regional, or statewide. The initial decision to make a local Missing Person with Autism Alert shall be at the discretion of the local law-enforcement official. Prior to making a local Missing Person with Autism Alert, the local law-enforcement official shall confer with the Virginia State Police and provide information regarding the missing person with autism to the Virginia State Police. The decision to make a regional or statewide Missing Person with Autism Alert shall be at the discretion of the Virginia State Police.

C. The Missing Person with Autism Alert shall include such information as the law-enforcement agency deems appropriate that will assist in the safe recovery of the missing person with autism.

D. The Missing Person with Autism Alert shall be canceled under the terms of the Missing Person with Autism Alert Agreement. Any local law-enforcement agency that locates a missing person with autism who is the subject of an alert shall notify the Virginia State Police immediately that the missing person with autism has been located.

2020, c. 19; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 189.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 7.6 (Cold Case Searchable Database)
§ 52-34.16. Cold case searchable database established.
A. As used in this section, "cold case" means an investigation into a homicide, missing person, or unidentified person case that has remained unsolved for at least five years after the crime occurred, the person went missing, or the unidentified body was found, whichever occurred last.

B. The Superintendent of State Police shall establish and maintain a searchable electronic database of cold cases to assist law-enforcement agencies in the development of information leading to the identification and arrest of persons who may have committed the crimes or to persons who may have relevant information to solve the case. Such database shall be available to the public through the Department of State Police official website.

C. The searchable electronic database shall include (i) the category of cold case and, in the case of a homicide or missing person, the name of the victim or missing person, unless disclosure is prohibited or restricted by § 19.2-11.2; (ii) the location where the crime was committed, where the person was last seen, or where the body was found, if known; (iii) the date and time the crime occurred, the person was last seen, or the body was found, if known; (iv) the name and contact information of the investigating law-enforcement agency; (v) a brief summary of the crime or case; and (vi) any other information that the investigating law-enforcement agency determines is appropriate. The Department of State Police and submitting law-enforcement agencies shall have the discretion to withhold such information, in whole or in part, from the database (a) as they deem necessary for investigative purposes, protection of privacy, or any other lawful reason or (b) upon request of the victim's or missing person's next of kin.

2020, c. 1127, § 52-34.13.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 8 (WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM)
§ 52-35. Witness protection program established.
The Superintendent of State Police may establish and maintain within the Department of State Police a witness protection program to temporarily relocate or otherwise protect witnesses and their families who may be in danger because of their cooperation with the investigation and prosecution of serious violent crimes, felony violations of § 18.2-248, and violations of §§ 18.2-57.2, 18.2-67.5:1, 18.2-67.5:2, and 18.2-67.5:3. The Superintendent may make the services of the program available to law-enforcement and criminal justice agencies of all counties, cities, and towns, and of the Commonwealth, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Superintendent under the Administrative Process Act. (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

1994, c. 833; 2002, cc. 810, 818.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 9 (INSURANCE FRAUD)
§ 52-36. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:

"Commission" means the State Corporation Commission.

"Insurance fraud" means any commission or attempted commission of the criminal acts and practices defined in § 18.2-178 which involve any type of insurance as defined in §§ 38.2-110 through 38.2-122.2 and 38.2-124 through 38.2-132.

"Insurance policy" means a contract or other written instrument between an insured and insurer setting forth the obligations and responsibilities of each party.

"Insurance premium finance company" has the same meaning as specified in § 38.2-4700.

"Insurance professional" means adjusters, agents, managing general agents, surplus lines brokers, reinsurance intermediaries, insurance consultants, brokers, and attorneys-in-fact.

"Insurance transaction," "insurance business," and "business of insurance" include solicitation, negotiations preliminary to execution of an insurance contract, execution of an insurance contract and the transaction of matters subsequent to execution of a contract and arising out of it, and matters arising out of any relationship among or between an insured, an insurer and a third party for which an insurance policy provides coverage.

"Insured" means any person covered by an insurance policy.

"Insurer" means any person subject to regulation pursuant to Title 38.2, 46.2, or 65.2 engaged in the business of making, or purporting to make, contracts of insurance and any self-insured private or public employer; however, this term shall not include (i) any person licensed by or subject to regulation pursuant to Chapter 18 (§ 38.2-1800 et seq.) of Title 38.2, (ii) title insurers subject to regulation pursuant to Chapter 46 (§ 38.2-4600 et seq.) of Title 38.2, (iii) continuing care providers subject to registration pursuant to Chapter 49 (§ 38.2-4900 et seq.) of Title 38.2, and (iv) purchasing groups authorized by Chapter 51 (§ 38.2-5100 et seq.) of Title 38.2.

1998, c. 590; 2000, c. 526; 2011, c. 208.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 9 (INSURANCE FRAUD)
§ 52-37. Insurance Fraud Investigation Unit established; powers and duties of Department of State Police.
A. There shall be established within the Department of State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Insurance Fraud Investigation Unit. The purposes of this unit shall be to:

1. Initiate independent inquiries and conduct independent investigations when the Department has reason to believe that insurance fraud may have been or is currently being committed, and to undertake studies to determine the extent of such insurance fraud.

2. Respond to notification or complaints alleging insurance fraud generated by federal, state and local police, other law-enforcement authorities, governmental agencies or units, and any other person.

3. Review notices and reports of insurance fraud; select the incidents of suspected fraud that, in its judgment, require further detailed investigation; and conduct the investigations.

B. The Superintendent may appoint such agents as he may deem necessary to assist the Department in carrying out its powers and duties under this chapter.

1998, c. 590.

Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 9 (INSURANCE FRAUD)
§ 52-38. Access to evidence, documentation, and related materials.
A. If the Department seeks evidence, documentation, and related materials from an insurer or insurance professional, whether in written or electronic format, that are located within the Commonwealth or that may be electronically accessed by an insurer or insurance professional conducting business in the Commonwealth, and that are deemed by the Department as pertinent to an investigation or examination, the Department may request access to such evidence, documentation, or related materials. The person so requested shall either provide electronic or physical copies of such evidence, documentation, or related materials to the Department or shall make such evidence, documentation, or related materials available for inspection or examination by a designated representative of the Department.

B. The provider of evidence, documentation, and related materials under the provisions of subsection A may authenticate any electronic or physical copies of such evidence, documentation, and related materials, excluding the contents of any electronic communications, by providing an affidavit from the custodian of those electronic or physical copies or from a person to whom the custodian reports certifying that the copies are true and complete and that they are prepared in the regular course of business. Any copies authenticated in accordance with this subsection are admissible in evidence as a business record.

1998, c. 590; 2012, c. 542.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 9 (INSURANCE FRAUD)
§ 52-39. Confidentiality and immunity from service of process.
A. Papers, records, documents, reports, materials or other evidence relative to the subject of an insurance fraud investigation or examination in the possession of the Department shall remain confidential and shall not be subject to public inspection.

B. Agents employed by the Department shall not be subject to subpoena in civil actions by any court in this Commonwealth to testify concerning any matter of which they have knowledge pursuant to a pending or continuing insurance fraud investigation or examination being conducted by the Department.

1998, c. 590.

Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 9 (INSURANCE FRAUD)
§ 52-40. Duties of insurers, their employees and insurance professionals.
A. If any insurer, any employee thereof, or any insurance professional has knowledge of, or has reason to believe that a violation of § 18.2-178 will be, is being, or has been committed, that person shall furnish and disclose any information in his possession concerning the fraudulent act to the Department, subject to any legal privilege protecting such information.

B. All applications for insurance and all claim forms provided and required by an insurer or required by law as a condition of payment of a claim shall contain a statement, permanently affixed to, or included as a part of the application or claim form, that clearly states in substance the following:

"It is a crime to knowingly provide false, incomplete or misleading information to an insurance company for the purpose of defrauding the company. Penalties include imprisonment, fines and denial of insurance benefits."

The lack of a statement required in this subsection does not constitute a defense in any criminal prosecution. The statement required by this subsection shall not be required on applications and forms relating to reinsurance.

1998, c. 590.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 9 (INSURANCE FRAUD)
§ 52-41. Receipt of information; immunity from liability.
A. Any insurer providing information to an authorized representative of the Department pursuant to § 52-38 or pursuant to subdivision B 5 of § 38.2-613 shall have the right to request relevant information and receive, within thirty days, the information requested.

B. No cause of action in the nature of defamation, invasion of privacy, or negligence shall arise against any person furnishing information concerning any suspected, anticipated or completed criminal violation when the information is provided to or received from the Department, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, another insurer, any federal or state governmental entity established for the purposes of detecting and preventing insurance fraud, or the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

C. No insurer, its officers or employees, insurance professional or any other person shall be subject to such cause of action for cooperating with, or furnishing evidence or information regarding any suspected criminal violation to the Department.

D. This section shall not provide immunity for those disclosing or furnishing false information with malice or willful intent to injure any person.

E. This section does not abrogate or modify in any way common law or statutory privilege or immunity heretofore enjoyed by any person or entity, nor does it authorize the Department to make public insurance company records that are proprietary in nature.

1998, c. 590; 2001, c. 371.

Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 9 (INSURANCE FRAUD)
§ 52-42. Reward fund.
The Department, in cooperation with authorized insurers and insurance professionals, may establish and operate a fund to offer monetary rewards for information sufficient to procure conviction in a court of appropriate jurisdiction of a person or persons responsible for insurance fraud. No law-enforcement officer, employee of the Commission, employee of an insurance company or any insurance professional shall be eligible to receive such reward.

1998, c. 590.

Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 9 (INSURANCE FRAUD)
§ 52-43. Reports.
The Department shall submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly no later than February 15 of each year on the progress made in deterring insurance fraud. Such report shall detail (i) all expenditures and receipts of the Insurance Fraud Investigation Unit, (ii) the uses to which these funds were put, including payment of salaries and expenses, purchases of equipment and supplies, and other expenditures by type, and (iii) the results achieved as a consequence of such expenditures, including the number of notifications or inquiries received, the number of inquiries and investigations undertaken, the number of inquiries to which an investigation was not initiated, the number of arrests, the number of files presented to prosecutors, the number of prosecutions, the number of convictions and the total dollar amount of restitution resulting from the operation of the Insurance Fraud Investigation Unit.

1998, c. 590.
Code of Virginia — Title 52 (Police (State)), Chapter 9 (INSURANCE FRAUD)
§ 52-44. Other law-enforcement authority.
This chapter shall not:

1. Preempt the authority or relieve the duty of any law-enforcement agencies to investigate, examine, and prosecute suspected violations of law.

2. Limit any of the powers granted elsewhere by the laws of this Commonwealth to the Commission to investigate and examine possible violations of law and to take appropriate action.

1998, c. 590.
Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-1.01. Certified mail; subsequent mail or notices may be sent by regular mail.
Whenever in this title the Board or the Department is required to send any mail or notice by certified mail and such mail or notice is sent certified mail, return receipt requested, then any subsequent, identical mail or notice that is sent by the Board or the Department may be sent by regular mail.

2011, c. 566.

Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-1.1. Telephone systems within correctional facilities.
The Department shall offer debit or prepaid telephone systems, in addition to any existing collect calling systems, which allow telephone calls to be placed to the telephone number or numbers on an approved call list. Such telephone systems shall be established with the lowest available rates. The maximum number of telephone numbers permitted on an approved call list shall be no fewer than 20. The Department shall not receive any commission from such telephone systems.

2005, c. 612; 2024, c. 455.
Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-1.2. Visitation policies.
The following procedures regarding individuals who are physically present at a state correctional facility for the purpose of visiting a prisoner shall apply:

1. Upon entry into a state correctional facility, visitors shall be informed of the items that they are not permitted to bring into the facility and the items that they are permitted to bring into the facility.

2. If an item that is otherwise legal for the visitor to possess is not permitted in the facility, the item may be placed in the possession of facility employees, if the facility is able to store such item, for the duration of the visit and returned to the visitor upon leaving the facility.

3. If equipment is available, visitors shall be scanned or wanded by an electronic scanning or detection device, or both.

4. If detector canines are available, visitors shall be subjected to a detector canine search.

5. If the detector canine search, scanning, or wanding does not indicate any contraband and the visitor is otherwise eligible to visit, the visitor shall be allowed a visit with the prisoner that allows personal contact.

6. If the detector canine search, scanning, or wanding indicates the possibility of contraband, the visitor shall have the option of consenting to a search of his person. If the visitor does not consent to a search of his person after only a detector canine search indicates the possibility of contraband and the visitor is otherwise eligible to visit, he shall be allowed a visit with the prisoner that does not allow personal contact. If the visitor does not consent to a search of his person after scanning or wanding indicates the possibility of contraband, the Department may deny the visitor entry into the facility in accordance with the operating procedures regarding visiting privileges as authorized by § 53.1-30.

7. A visitor shall be allowed to leave the correctional facility and discontinue the search process prior to the discovery of contraband. A visitor shall not be barred from future visits because he stops a search prior to the discovery of contraband or refuses to consent to a search of his person, including refusing to consent to a strip search or a search of any body cavity. Correctional facility personnel shall not use the search procedure or search results as a threat to bar future visits. The superintendent, warden, or other official in charge of the facility shall ensure that correctional facility personnel do not use the search procedure or search results as a threat to bar future visits.

2020, c. 1170.
Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-11. Bond of Director.
The Director shall be bonded in accordance with § 2.2-1840, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his duties.

Code 1950, § 53-19.10; 1974, cc. 44, 45; 1982, c. 636; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 152.

Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-12. Divisions of Department; division heads.
The Director shall establish in the Department such divisions and regional offices as may be necessary and shall appoint heads of these divisions and offices in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.) of Title 2.2.

Code 1950, §§ 53-19.11, 53-19.12; 1974, cc. 44, 45; 1978, c. 555; 1982, c. 636.

Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-13. Bonds of agents and employees.
Proper bonds shall be required of all agents and employees who handle any funds which come into custody of the Department. The premiums on the bonds shall be paid from funds appropriated to the Department.

Code 1950, § 53-19.16; 1974, cc. 44, 45; 1982, c. 636.

Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-14. Repealed.
Repealed by Acts 1984, c. 734.

Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-15. Repealed.
Repealed by Acts 2020, c. 759, cl. 2.

Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-16. Repealed.
Repealed by Acts 2011, cc. 798 and 871, cl. 2, effective July 1, 2012.

Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-17. Defense of Department of Corrections employees.
If any employee of the Department shall be brought before any regulatory or administrative body, summoned before any regular or special grand jury, or, arrested, indicted, or prosecuted on any charge arising out of any act committed in the discharge of his official duties, the Director may, with the approval of the Governor, pay in whole or in part, counsel employed by such employee to represent him, provided he is neither convicted nor terminated from his employment. Such compensation shall be paid from funds appropriated to the Department.

Code 1950, §§ 53-16.1, 53-19.19; 1958, c. 542; 1970, c. 648; 1974, cc. 44, 45; 1976, c. 517; 1982, c. 636; 1989, c. 298.
Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-17.1. Continuous quality improvement committee; report.
A. The Director shall establish a health care continuous quality improvement committee, which shall be composed of the Director, or his designee, and at least one of each of the following: a health services director, physician, nurse, dentist, mental health director, pharmacist, psychiatrist, specialist in infection control, and grievance counselor employed by the Department. The committee shall (i) identify appropriate criteria for evaluation of the quality of health care services provided by the Department, (ii) monitor and evaluate the quality of health care services provided by the Department utilizing the criteria identified, and (iii) develop strategies to improve the quality of health care services provided by the Department.

B. Beginning July 1, 2020, the committee established pursuant to subsection A shall publish quarterly continuous quality improvement reports setting forth such data and information as the committee shall deem appropriate on a website maintained by the Department. Each facility shall submit quarterly continuous quality improvement reports containing such data and information as may be required by the committee at such times as may be required by the committee, for inclusion in the committee's quarterly continuous quality improvement report.

2019, cc. 320, 463.

Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-17.10. Exhaustion of remedies.
Any action or lack of action by the Office on a complaint made pursuant to this article shall not be deemed an administrative procedure required for exhaustion of remedies before bringing an action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1997(e).

2024, cc. 392, 393.
Code of Virginia — Title 53.1 (Prisons and Other Methods of Correction), Chapter 1 (ADMINISTRATION GENERALLY)
§ 53.1-17.5. Communications; confidentiality.
A. Unless otherwise part of the public record, the following records shall be kept confidential from the general public and not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.):

1. Complaints received by the Office, as well as statements, documentation, and other evidence received or maintained by the Office or its agents in connection with complaints made to or investigations undertaken pursuant to the Office's powers under §§ 53.1-17.6 and 53.1-17.7, including the identities of recipients of Ombudsman services, complainants, and individuals from whom information is acquired.

2. Photographs or video recordings taken within a Department facility pursuant to subsection A of § 53.1-17.4, if the Office determines that such photographs or video recordings contain information that is not otherwise publicly available and their dissemination to the public would jeopardize the safety or security of inmates or employees of the Department, or they can be used to identify inmates.

3. Personal identifying information about corrections staff received during the course of an investigation.

B. The Office shall establish rules and procedures to ensure the confidentiality of such information gathered and maintained by the Office. The Office shall not reveal to (i) Department employees or contractors or (ii) other inmates the identity of a complainant before, during, or after an investigation to the greatest extent practicable, except as is necessary to effectively carry out an investigation.

C. Notwithstanding anything else in this section, the Office shall disclose information as needed to prevent reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm.

D. The Office shall keep confidential all matters under investigation, including the identities of recipients of Ombudsman services, complainants, and individuals from whom information is acquired, unless disclosure is necessary for the performance of its duties. If the Office receives personal identifying information about corrections staff during the course of an investigation that is unnecessary or unrelated to the subject of the investigation or related recommendation, the Office shall not further disclose such information. Prior to the disclosure of any such information, the Office shall provide notice to the applicable staff person and the Director.

E. Upon receipt of information that is confidential or privileged, the Office shall maintain the confidentiality of such information and shall not further disclose or disseminate the information except as provided by applicable state or federal law or as authorized by this section.

2024, cc. 392, 393.