{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/53.1-39.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/53.1-39.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/53.1-39.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/53.1-39.3.html"}],"law_id":367746,"edition_id":2,"section_id":367746,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.3","catch_line":"Use of canines in state correctional facilities; prohibited acts; policies and regulations made public; incidents of use of canines reported; exception","history":"2024, c. 99.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is unlawful for any correctional officer or other employee of a state correctional facility who is permitted to handle canines to use a patrol or security canine in any state correctional facility unless such correctional officer or other employee (i) reasonably believes that the use of a patrol or security canine is immediately necessary to protect any prisoner or any officer or employee from the threat of serious bodily injury or death or (ii) has the prior approval of the warden or a supervisor to use a patrol or security canine to intervene in an altercation, fight, or other incident between three or more prisoners. If feasible, the correctional officer shall provide a warning to the subject of any canine use of force prior to the deployment of a canine.\n\nB\n\nThe Department shall make public any policies and regulations relating to (i) the use of canines, (ii) training requirements for both canines and the handlers of such canines, and (iii) the supervision of the officers or employees who are permitted to handle such canines.\n\nC\n\nThe Department shall track all canine uses of force and all incidents in which canines were present or requested for assistance but no canine use of force occurred. The information collected shall be reported publicly and made available on the Department’s website.\n\nD\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not apply to the training or use of detector canines or detector canine handlers.\n\nE\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the use of a canine to locate a prisoner who has escaped from a state correctional facility.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1368904,"text":"It is unlawful for any correctional officer or other employee of a state correctional facility who is permitted to handle canines to use a patrol or security canine in any state correctional facility unless such correctional officer or other employee (i) reasonably believes that the use of a patrol or security canine is immediately necessary to protect any prisoner or any officer or employee from the threat of serious bodily injury or death or (ii) has the prior approval of the warden or a supervisor to use a patrol or security canine to intervene in an altercation, fight, or other incident between three or more prisoners. If feasible, the correctional officer shall provide a warning to the subject of any canine use of force prior to the deployment of a canine.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1368905,"text":"The Department shall make public any policies and regulations relating to (i) the use of canines, (ii) training requirements for both canines and the handlers of such canines, and (iii) the supervision of the officers or employees who are permitted to handle such canines.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1368906,"text":"The Department shall track all canine uses of force and all incidents in which canines were present or requested for assistance but no canine use of force occurred. The information collected shall be reported publicly and made available on the Department’s website.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1368907,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not apply to the training or use of detector canines or detector canine handlers.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":1368908,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the use of a canine to locate a prisoner who has escaped from a state correctional facility.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52421,"edition_id":2,"name":"Treatment and Privileges of Prisoners","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52400,"metadata":{"child_laws":20,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:35","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:45","permalink":{"id":1464955,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52421,"identifier":"2","token":"53.1\/2\/2","url":"\/53.1\/2\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52400,"edition_id":2,"name":"State Correctional Facilities","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52379,"metadata":{"child_laws":99,"child_structures":11},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:45","permalink":{"id":1464863,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52400,"identifier":"2","token":"53.1\/2","url":"\/53.1\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52379,"edition_id":2,"name":"Prisons and Other Methods of Correction","identifier":"53.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":117,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":402,"child_structures":56},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:08","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:44","permalink":{"id":1464593,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52379,"identifier":"53.1","token":"53.1","url":"\/53.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":367734,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32","catch_line":"Treatment and control of prisoners; recreation; religious services","url":"\/53.1-32\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32","metadata":false},{"id":367731,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32.01","catch_line":"Payment for bodily injury","url":"\/53.1-32.01\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32.01","metadata":false},{"id":367732,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32.1","catch_line":"Classification system; program assignments; mandatory participation","url":"\/53.1-32.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32.1","metadata":false},{"id":367733,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32.2","catch_line":"Reentry planning","url":"\/53.1-32.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32.2","metadata":false},{"id":367736,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-33","catch_line":"Physical examination of prisoner; ability to work","url":"\/53.1-33\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-33","metadata":false},{"id":367735,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-33.1","catch_line":"Mandatory testing for human immunodeficiency virus","url":"\/53.1-33.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-33.1","metadata":false},{"id":367737,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-34","catch_line":"Treatment of prisoner with contagious disease","url":"\/53.1-34\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-34","metadata":false},{"id":367740,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35","catch_line":"Correspondence privileges; receipt of publications","url":"\/53.1-35\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35","metadata":false},{"id":367738,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35.1","catch_line":"Electronic visitation and messaging with inmates","url":"\/53.1-35.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.1","metadata":false},{"id":367739,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35.2","catch_line":"Visitation of certain prisoners by minor dependents","url":"\/53.1-35.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.2","metadata":false},{"id":367741,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-36","catch_line":"Prisoners may assist in medical research programs","url":"\/53.1-36\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-36","metadata":false},{"id":367742,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-37","catch_line":"Furloughs generally; travel expenses; penalties for violations","url":"\/53.1-37\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-37","metadata":false},{"id":367743,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-38","catch_line":"When ineligible for furloughs","url":"\/53.1-38\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-38","metadata":false},{"id":367747,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39","catch_line":"Certain punishment of prisoners prohibited","url":"\/53.1-39\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39","metadata":false},{"id":367744,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.1","catch_line":"Restrictive housing; data collection and reporting; report","url":"\/53.1-39.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.1","metadata":false},{"id":367745,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.2","catch_line":"Restorative housing; restrictions on use","url":"\/53.1-39.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.2","metadata":false},{"id":367746,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.3","catch_line":"Use of canines in state correctional facilities; prohibited acts; policies and regulations made public; incidents of use of canines reported; exception","url":"\/53.1-39.3\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.3","metadata":false},{"id":367767,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-40","catch_line":"Appointment of counsel for indigent prisoners","url":"\/53.1-40\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-40","metadata":false},{"id":367749,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-40.01","catch_line":"Conditional release of geriatric prisoners","url":"\/53.1-40.01\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-40.01","metadata":false},{"id":367750,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-40.02","catch_line":"Conditional release of terminally ill prisoners","url":"\/53.1-40.02\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-40.02","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":367745,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.2","catch_line":"Restorative housing; restrictions on use","url":"\/53.1-39.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.2","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":367767,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-40","catch_line":"Appointment of counsel for indigent prisoners","url":"\/53.1-40\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-40","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/53.1-39.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2024. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 99<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1465021,"object_type":"law","relational_id":367746,"identifier":"53.1-39.3","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.3","url":"\/53.1-39.3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/53.1-39.3\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Use of canines in state correctional facilities; prohibited acts; policies and regulations made public; incidents of use of canines reported; exception","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 53.1-39.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It is unlawful for any correctional officer<\/span> or other employee of a state correctional facility<\/span> who is permitted to handle canines to use a patrol or security canine in any state correctional facility<\/span> unless such correctional officer<\/span> or other employee (i) reasonably believes that the use of a patrol or security canine is immediately necessary to protect any prisoner or any officer or employee from the threat of serious bodily injury or death or (ii) has the prior approval of the warden or a supervisor to use a patrol or security canine to intervene in an altercation, fight, or other incident between three or more prisoners. If feasible, the correctional officer<\/span> shall provide a warning to the subject of any canine use of force prior to the deployment of a canine. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall make public any policies and regulations relating to (i) the use of canines, (ii) training requirements for both canines and the handlers of such canines, and (iii) the supervision of the officers or employees who are permitted to handle such canines. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall track all canine uses of force and all incidents in which canines were present or requested for assistance but no canine use of force occurred. The information collected shall be reported publicly and made available on the Department<\/span>’s website. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to the training or use of detector canines or detector canine handlers. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the use of a canine to locate a prisoner who has escaped from a state correctional facility<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUSE OF CANINES IN STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; PROHIBITED ACTS; POLICIES AND\nREGULATIONS MADE PUBLIC; INCIDENTS OF USE OF CANINES REPORTED; EXCEPTION (\u00a7\n53.1-39.3)\n\nA. It is unlawful for any correctional officer or other employee of a state\ncorrectional facility who is permitted to handle canines to use a patrol or\nsecurity canine in any state correctional facility unless such correctional\nofficer or other employee (i) reasonably believes that the use of a patrol or\nsecurity canine is immediately necessary to protect any prisoner or any officer\nor employee from the threat of serious bodily injury or death or (ii) has the\nprior approval of the warden or a supervisor to use a patrol or security canine\nto intervene in an altercation, fight, or other incident between three or more\nprisoners. If feasible, the correctional officer shall provide a warning to the\nsubject of any canine use of force prior to the deployment of a canine.\n\nB. The Department shall make public any policies and regulations relating to (i)\nthe use of canines, (ii) training requirements for both canines and the handlers\nof such canines, and (iii) the supervision of the officers or employees who are\npermitted to handle such canines.\n\nC. The Department shall track all canine uses of force and all incidents in\nwhich canines were present or requested for assistance but no canine use of\nforce occurred. The information collected shall be reported publicly and made\navailable on the Department’s website.\n\nD. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the training or use of\ndetector canines or detector canine handlers.\n\nE. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the use of a canine\nto locate a prisoner who has escaped from a state correctional facility.\n\nHISTORY: 2024, c. 99.","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"}}