{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/19.2-55.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/19.2-55.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/19.2-55.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/19.2-55.html"}],"law_id":351896,"edition_id":2,"section_id":351896,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-55","catch_line":"Issuing general search warrant or search warrant without affidavit deemed malfeasance","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 19.1-89; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495.","full_text":"Any person having authority to issue criminal warrants who wilfully and knowingly issues a general search warrant or a search warrant without the affidavit required by \u00a7 19.2-54 shall be deemed guilty of a malfeasance.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1309859,"text":"Any person having authority to issue criminal warrants who wilfully and knowingly issues a general search warrant or a search warrant without the affidavit required by \u00a7 19.2-54 shall be deemed guilty of a malfeasance.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":50321,"edition_id":2,"name":"Search Warrants","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":7,"parent_id":50226,"metadata":{"child_laws":15,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:26:40","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:35","permalink":{"id":1397801,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50321,"identifier":"5","token":"19.2\/5","url":"\/19.2\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50226,"edition_id":2,"name":"Criminal Procedure","identifier":"19.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":54,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":771,"child_structures":99},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:25:04","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:30","permalink":{"id":1395171,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50226,"identifier":"19.2","token":"19.2","url":"\/19.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":351892,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-52","catch_line":"When search warrant may issue","url":"\/19.2-52\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-52","metadata":false},{"id":351894,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-53","catch_line":"What may be searched and seized","url":"\/19.2-53\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-53","metadata":false},{"id":351893,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-53.1","catch_line":"Taking blood samples pursuant to search warrant; immunity","url":"\/19.2-53.1\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-53.1","metadata":false},{"id":351895,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-54","catch_line":"Affidavit preliminary to issuance of search warrant; general search warrant prohibited; effect of failure to file affidavit","url":"\/19.2-54\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-54","metadata":false},{"id":351896,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-55","catch_line":"Issuing general search warrant or search warrant without affidavit deemed malfeasance","url":"\/19.2-55\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-55","metadata":false},{"id":351899,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-56","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) To whom search warrant directed; what it shall command; warrant to show date and time of issuance; copy of affidavit to be part of warrant and served therewith; warrants not executed within 15 days","url":"\/19.2-56\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56","metadata":false},{"id":351897,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-56.1","catch_line":"Warrant issued for search of attorney's office","url":"\/19.2-56.1\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56.1","metadata":false},{"id":351898,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-56.2","catch_line":"Application for and issuance of search warrant for a tracking device; installation and use","url":"\/19.2-56.2\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56.2","metadata":false},{"id":351900,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-57","catch_line":"Execution and return of warrant; list of property seized","url":"\/19.2-57\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-57","metadata":false},{"id":351901,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-58","catch_line":"Disposition of property seized","url":"\/19.2-58\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-58","metadata":false},{"id":351903,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-59","catch_line":"Search without warrant prohibited; when search without warrant lawful","url":"\/19.2-59\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-59","metadata":false},{"id":351902,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-59.1","catch_line":"Strip searches prohibited; exceptions; how strip searches conducted","url":"\/19.2-59.1\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-59.1","metadata":false},{"id":351907,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-60","catch_line":"Motion for return of seized property and to suppress","url":"\/19.2-60\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-60","metadata":false},{"id":351905,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-60.1","catch_line":"Use of unmanned aircraft systems by public bodies; search warrant required","url":"\/19.2-60.1\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-60.1","metadata":false},{"id":351906,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-60.2","catch_line":"Issuance of search warrant, subpoena, court order, or other process for information related to menstrual health data prohibited","url":"\/19.2-60.2\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-60.2","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}}],"previous_section":{"id":351895,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-54","catch_line":"Affidavit preliminary to issuance of search warrant; general search warrant prohibited; effect of failure to file affidavit","url":"\/19.2-54\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-54","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":351899,"structure_id":50321,"section_number":"19.2-56","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) To whom search warrant directed; what it shall command; warrant to show date and time of issuance; copy of affidavit to be part of warrant and served therewith; warrants not executed within 15 days","url":"\/19.2-56\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-56","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-55\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1960, chapter 366; in 1975, chapter 495.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":351895,"section_number":"19.2-54","catch_line":"Affidavit preliminary to issuance of search warrant; general search warrant prohibited; effect of failure to file affidavit","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-54\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1397819,"object_type":"law","relational_id":351896,"identifier":"19.2-55","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-55","url":"\/19.2-55\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-55\/","token":"19.2\/5\/19.2-55","dublin_core":{"Title":"Issuing general search warrant or search warrant without affidavit deemed malfeasance","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-55","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Any person having authority to <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span> criminal warrants who wilfully and knowingly <span class=\"dictionary\">issues<\/span> a general <span class=\"dictionary\">search warrant<\/span> or a <span class=\"dictionary\">search warrant<\/span> without the <span class=\"dictionary\">affidavit<\/span> required by \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Affidavit preliminary to issuance of search warrant; general search warrant prohibited; effect of failure to file affidavit\" href=\"\/19.2-54\/\">19.2-54<\/a> shall be deemed guilty of a malfeasance.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nISSUING GENERAL SEARCH WARRANT OR SEARCH WARRANT WITHOUT AFFIDAVIT DEEMED\nMALFEASANCE (\u00a7 19.2-55)\n\nAny person having authority to issue criminal warrants who wilfully and\nknowingly issues a general search warrant or a search warrant without the\naffidavit required by \u00a7 19.2-54 shall be deemed guilty of a malfeasance.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 19.1-89; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}