{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/9.1-185.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/9.1-185.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/9.1-185.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/9.1-185.html"}],"law_id":378651,"edition_id":2,"section_id":378651,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"2004, c. 460; 2007, c. 708.","full_text":"As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\n“Agent” means a person who is a licensed bail bondsman who has been given power of attorney to act on the behalf of a licensed property bail bondsman.\n\n“Bail bondsman” means any person who is licensed by the Department who engages in the business of bail bonding and is thereby authorized to conduct business in all courts of the Commonwealth.\n\n“Board” means the Criminal Justice Services Board.\n\n“Certificate” means a certificate issued by a judge on or before June 30, 2005, pursuant to former \u00a7 19.2-152.1.\n\n“Department” means the Department of Criminal Justice Services.\n\n“Property bail bondsman” means a person licensed pursuant to this article who, for compensation, enters into a bond or does so through his agent and who pledges real property, cash or certificates of deposit issued by a federally insured institution, or any combination thereof as security for a bond as defined in \u00a7 19.2-119 that has been posted to assure performance of terms and conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.\n\n“Surety bail bondsman” means a person licensed pursuant to this article who is also licensed by the State Corporation Commission as a property and casualty insurance agent, and who sells, solicits, or negotiates surety insurance as defined in \u00a7 38.2-121 on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth, pursuant to which the insurer becomes surety on or guarantees a bond, as defined in \u00a7 19.2-119, that has been posted to assure performance of terms and conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1414028,"text":"As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1414029,"text":"“Agent” means a person who is a licensed bail bondsman who has been given power of attorney to act on the behalf of a licensed property bail bondsman.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1414030,"text":"“Bail bondsman” means any person who is licensed by the Department who engages in the business of bail bonding and is thereby authorized to conduct business in all courts of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"3":{"id":1414031,"text":"“Board” means the Criminal Justice Services Board.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"4":{"id":1414032,"text":"“Certificate” means a certificate issued by a judge on or before June 30, 2005, pursuant to former \u00a7 19.2-152.1.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"5":{"id":1414033,"text":"“Department” means the Department of Criminal Justice Services.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"6":{"id":1414034,"text":"“Property bail bondsman” means a person licensed pursuant to this article who, for compensation, enters into a bond or does so through his agent and who pledges real property, cash or certificates of deposit issued by a federally insured institution, or any combination thereof as security for a bond as defined in \u00a7 19.2-119 that has been posted to assure performance of terms and conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"7":{"id":1414035,"text":"“Surety bail bondsman” means a person licensed pursuant to this article who is also licensed by the State Corporation Commission as a property and casualty insurance agent, and who sells, solicits, or negotiates surety insurance as defined in \u00a7 38.2-121 on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth, pursuant to which the insurer becomes surety on or guarantees a bond, as defined in \u00a7 19.2-119, that has been posted to assure performance of terms and conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":53806,"edition_id":2,"name":"Bail Bondsmen","identifier":"11","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":11,"parent_id":53786,"metadata":{"child_laws":19,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:22:32","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:41","permalink":{"id":1511637,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53806,"identifier":"11","token":"9.1\/1\/11","url":"\/9.1\/1\/11\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53786,"edition_id":2,"name":"Department of Criminal Justice Services","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":53785,"metadata":{"child_laws":143,"child_structures":17},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:22:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:40","permalink":{"id":1511491,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53786,"identifier":"1","token":"9.1\/1","url":"\/9.1\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53785,"edition_id":2,"name":"Commonwealth Public Safety","identifier":"9.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":36,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":258,"child_structures":36},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:22:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:28:39","permalink":{"id":1511489,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53785,"identifier":"9.1","token":"9.1","url":"\/9.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":378651,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/9.1-185\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185","metadata":false},{"id":378633,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.1","catch_line":"Inapplicability of this 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requirements","url":"\/9.1-185.13\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.13","metadata":false},{"id":378638,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.14","catch_line":"Reporting standards and requirements","url":"\/9.1-185.14\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.14","metadata":false},{"id":378639,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.15","catch_line":"Recovery of bailees; methods of capture; standards and requirements; limitations","url":"\/9.1-185.15\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.15","metadata":false},{"id":378640,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.16","catch_line":"Department submission to the State Corporation Commission","url":"\/9.1-185.16\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.16","metadata":false},{"id":378641,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.17","catch_line":"Department submissions to local and regional correctional facilities","url":"\/9.1-185.17\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.17","metadata":false},{"id":378642,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.18","catch_line":"Penalties","url":"\/9.1-185.18\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.18","metadata":false},{"id":378643,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.2","catch_line":"Powers of the Criminal Justice Services Board relating to bail bondsmen","url":"\/9.1-185.2\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.2","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Collins v. Commonwealth","case_number":"110067","citation":null,"date":"2012-01-13","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1057962\/collins-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Present: Kinser, C.J., Lemons, Goodwyn, Millette, and Mims, JJ., .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Collins v. Commonwealth","case_number":"2598092","citation":"702 S.E.2d 267","date":"2010-12-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1062054\/collins-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 702 S.E.2d 267 (2010) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":378644,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.3","catch_line":"Powers of Department of Criminal Justice Services relating to bail bondsmen","url":"\/9.1-185.3\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.3","metadata":false},{"id":378645,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.4","catch_line":"Limitations on licensure","url":"\/9.1-185.4\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.4","metadata":false},{"id":378646,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.5","catch_line":"Bail bondsman licensure requirements","url":"\/9.1-185.5\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.5","metadata":false},{"id":378647,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.6","catch_line":"Licenses; renewal","url":"\/9.1-185.6\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.6","metadata":false},{"id":378648,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.7","catch_line":"Licensure of nonresidents","url":"\/9.1-185.7\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.7","metadata":false},{"id":378649,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.8","catch_line":"Professional conduct standards; grounds for disciplinary actions","url":"\/9.1-185.8\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.8","metadata":false},{"id":378650,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.9","catch_line":"Solicitation of business; standards; restrictions and requirements","url":"\/9.1-185.9\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.9","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":378633,"structure_id":53806,"section_number":"9.1-185.1","catch_line":"Inapplicability of this article","url":"\/9.1-185.1\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/9.1-185\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2004. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 460<\/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. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2007, chapter 708<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":350647,"section_number":"18.2-283.2","catch_line":"Carrying a firearm or explosive material within Capitol Square and the surrounding area, into a building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, etc.; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-283.2\/"},{"id":352967,"section_number":"2.2-3705.3","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Exclusions to application of chapter; records relating to administrative investigations","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3705.3\/"},{"id":361537,"section_number":"38.2-1800","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-1800\/"},{"id":371978,"section_number":"58.1-3724","catch_line":"Bondsmen","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3724\/"},{"id":378512,"section_number":"9.1-102","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Board and the Department","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-102\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":351250,"section_number":"19.2-119","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-119\/"},{"id":351289,"section_number":"19.2-152.1","catch_line":"Repealed","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-152.1\/"},{"id":361242,"section_number":"38.2-121","catch_line":"Surety","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-121\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1511639,"object_type":"law","relational_id":378651,"identifier":"9.1-185","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185","url":"\/9.1-185\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/9.1-185\/","token":"9.1\/1\/11\/9.1-185","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 9.1-185","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:<\/p>

“Agent<\/span>” means a person who is a licensed bail bondsman who has been given power of attorney<\/span> to act on the behalf of a licensed property bail bondsman<\/span>.<\/p>

“Bail bondsman” means any person who is licensed by the Department<\/span> who engages in the business of bail bonding and is thereby authorized to conduct business in all courts<\/span> of the Commonwealth.<\/p>

“Board<\/span>” means the Criminal Justice Services Board<\/span>.<\/p>

“Certificate<\/span>” means a certificate<\/span> issued by a judge<\/span> on or before June 30, 2005, pursuant to former \u00a7 19.2-152.1<\/a>.<\/p>

“Department<\/span>” means the Department<\/span> of Criminal Justice Services.<\/p>

“Property bail bondsman<\/span>” means a person licensed pursuant to this article who, for compensation, enters into a bond<\/span> or does so through his agent<\/span> and who pledges real property, cash or certificates<\/span> of deposit issued by a federally insured institution, or any combination thereof as security for a bond<\/span> as defined in \u00a7 19.2-119<\/a> that has been posted to assure performance of terms and conditions specified by order<\/span> of an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.<\/p>

“Surety bail bondsman<\/span>” means a person licensed pursuant to this article who is also licensed by the State Corporation Commission as a property and casualty insurance agent<\/span>, and who sells, solicits, or negotiates surety insurance as defined in \u00a7 38.2-121<\/a> on behalf of insurers licensed in the Commonwealth, pursuant to which the insurer becomes surety on or guarantees a bond<\/span>, as defined in \u00a7 19.2-119<\/a>, that has been posted to assure performance of terms and conditions specified by order<\/span> of an appropriate judicial officer as a condition of bail.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 9.1-185)\n\nAs used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\n“Agent” means a person who is a licensed bail bondsman who has been\ngiven power of attorney to act on the behalf of a licensed property bail\nbondsman.\n\n“Bail bondsman” means any person who is licensed by the Department\nwho engages in the business of bail bonding and is thereby authorized to conduct\nbusiness in all courts of the Commonwealth.\n\n“Board” means the Criminal Justice Services Board.\n\n“Certificate” means a certificate issued by a judge on or before\nJune 30, 2005, pursuant to former \u00a7 19.2-152.1.\n\n“Department” means the Department of Criminal Justice Services.\n\n“Property bail bondsman” means a person licensed pursuant to this\narticle who, for compensation, enters into a bond or does so through his agent\nand who pledges real property, cash or certificates of deposit issued by a\nfederally insured institution, or any combination thereof as security for a bond\nas defined in \u00a7 19.2-119 that has been posted to assure performance of terms\nand conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer as a\ncondition of bail.\n\n“Surety bail bondsman” means a person licensed pursuant to this\narticle who is also licensed by the State Corporation Commission as a property\nand casualty insurance agent, and who sells, solicits, or negotiates surety\ninsurance as defined in \u00a7 38.2-121 on behalf of insurers licensed in the\nCommonwealth, pursuant to which the insurer becomes surety on or guarantees a\nbond, as defined in \u00a7 19.2-119, that has been posted to assure performance of\nterms and conditions specified by order of an appropriate judicial officer as a\ncondition of bail.\n\nHISTORY: 2004, c. 460; 2007, c. 708.","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"}}