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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>351751</law_id><section_number>19.2-368.15</section_number><catch_line>Subrogation of Commonwealth to claimant&amp;#8217;s right of action; lien in favor of the Commonwealth; disposition of funds collected</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-305</reference><reference>19.2-368.5</reference><reference>8.01-66.5</reference><reference>8.01-66.6</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="54" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="28" identifier="21.1">Compensating Victims of Crime</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Acceptance of an award made pursuant to this chapter shall subrogate the Commonwealth, to the extent of such award, to any right or right of action accruing to the <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> or the <span class="dictionary">victim</span> to recover payments on account of losses resulting from the <span class="dictionary">crime</span> with respect to which the award is made. However, except as otherwise provided in subsection J of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Restitution for property damage or loss; community service" href="/19.2-305.1/">19.2-305.1</a>, the Commonwealth shall not institute any proceedings in connection with its right of subrogation under this section within one year from the date of <span class="dictionary">commission</span> of the <span class="dictionary">crime</span>, unless any <span class="dictionary">claimant</span> or <span class="dictionary">victim</span>&#x2019;s right or action shall have been previously terminated. All funds collected by the Commonwealth in a proceeding instituted pursuant to this section shall be paid over to the Comptroller for deposit into the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.</p><p>Whenever any person receives an award from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund, the Commonwealth shall have a <span class="dictionary">lien</span> for the total amount paid by the Fund, or any portion thereof compromised pursuant to the authority granted under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Compromise and settlement of disputes" href="/2.2-514/">2.2-514</a>, on the claim of such injured person or his personal representative against the person, firm, or corporation who is alleged to have caused such injuries. The Fund&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">lien</span> shall be inferior to any <span class="dictionary">lien</span> for payment of reasonable attorney fees and costs, but shall be superior to all other <span class="dictionary">liens</span> created by &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Lien against person whose negligence causes injury" href="/8.01-66.2/">8.01-66.2</a>. The injured person may file a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or <span class="dictionary">motion</span> to reduce the <span class="dictionary">lien</span> and apportion the recovery pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Lien in favor of Commonwealth, its programs, institutions or departments on claim for personal injuries" href="/8.01-66.9/">8.01-66.9</a>. The Fund&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">lien</span> shall become effective when notice is provided pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Written notice required" href="/8.01-66.5/">8.01-66.5</a> and liability shall attach pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Liability for reasonable charges for services" href="/8.01-66.6/">8.01-66.6</a>.</p></section></text><history>1976, c. 605; 1983, c. 227; 2013, c. 273; 2017, cc. 786, 814; 2018, cc. 316, 671.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
