CODE OF VIRGINIA

APPREHENSION AND PROSECUTION OF PARTICIPANTS IN LYNCHING (§ 18.2-43)

The attorney for the Commonwealth of any county or city in which a lynching may
occur shall promptly and diligently endeavor to ascertain the identity of the
persons who in any way participated therein, or who composed the mob which
perpetrated the same, and have them apprehended, and shall promptly proceed with
the prosecution of any and all persons so found; and to the end that such
offenders may not escape proper punishment, such attorney for the Commonwealth
may be assisted in all such endeavors and prosecutions by the Attorney General,
or other prosecutors designated by the Governor for the purpose; and the
Governor may have full authority to spend such sums as he may deem necessary for
the purpose of seeking out the identity, and apprehending the members of such
mob.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 18.1-32; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15.