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2010 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 16.1-279.1 and 19.2-152.10 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 16.1-279.1. Protective order in cases of family abuse.
A. In cases of family abuse, including any case involving an incarcerated or recently incarcerated respondent against whom a preliminary protective order has been issued pursuant to § 16.1-253.1, the court may issue a protective order to protect the health and safety of the petitioner and family or household members of the petitioner. A protective order issued under this section may include any one or more of the following conditions to be imposed on the respondent:
1. Prohibiting acts of family abuse;
2. Prohibiting such contacts by the respondent with the petitioner or family or household members of the petitioner as the court deems necessary for the health or safety of such persons;
3. Granting the petitioner possession of the residence occupied by the parties to the exclusion of the respondent; however, no such grant of possession shall affect title to any real or personal property;
4. Enjoining the respondent from terminating any necessary utility service to the residence to which the petitioner was granted possession pursuant to subdivision 3 or, where appropriate, ordering the respondent to restore utility services to that residence;
5. Granting the petitioner temporary possession or use of a motor vehicle owned by the petitioner alone or jointly owned by the parties to the exclusion of the respondent; however, no such grant of possession or use shall affect title to the vehicle;
6. Requiring that the respondent provide suitable alternative housing for the petitioner and, if appropriate, any other family or household member and where appropriate, requiring the respondent to pay deposits to connect or restore necessary utility services in the alternative housing provided;
7. Ordering the respondent to participate in treatment, counseling or other programs as the court deems appropriate; and
8. Any other relief necessary for the protection of the petitioner and family or household members of the petitioner, including a provision for temporary custody or visitation of a minor child.
A1. If a protective order is issued pursuant to subsection A of this section, the court may also issue a temporary child support order for the support of any children of the petitioner whom the respondent has a legal obligation to support. Such order shall terminate upon the determination of support pursuant to § 20-108.1.
B. The protective order may be issued for a specified period;
however, unless otherwise authorized by law, a protective order may not be
issued under this section for a period longer than of time up to a
maximum of two years. The protective order shall expire at 11:59 p.m. on
the last day specified or at 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the two-year period
if no date is specified. Prior to the expiration of the protective order, a
petitioner may file a written motion requesting a hearing to extend the order.
Proceedings to extend a protective order shall be given precedence on the
docket of the court. If the petitioner was a member of the respondent's family
or household at the time the initial protective order was issued, the court may
extend the protective order for a period not longer than two years to protect
the health and safety of the petitioner or persons who are family or household
members of the petitioner at the time the request for an extension is made. The
extension of the protective order shall expire at 11:59 p.m. on the last day
specified or at 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the two-year period if no date is
specified. Nothing herein shall limit the number of extensions that may be
requested or issued.
C. A copy of the protective order shall be served on the respondent and provided to the petitioner as soon as possible. The court shall forthwith, but in all cases no later than the end of the business day on which the order was issued, enter and transfer electronically to the Virginia Criminal Information Network the respondent's identifying information and the name, date of birth, sex, and race of each protected person provided to the court and shall forthwith forward the attested copy of the protective order containing any such identifying information to the primary law-enforcement agency responsible for service and entry of protective orders. Upon receipt of the order by the primary law-enforcement agency, the agency shall forthwith verify and enter any modification as necessary to the identifying information and other appropriate information required by the Department of State Police into the Virginia Criminal Information Network established and maintained by the Department pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 52-12 et seq.) of Title 52 and the order shall be served forthwith upon the respondent and due return made to the court. However, if the order is issued by the circuit court, the clerk of the circuit court shall forthwith forward an attested copy of the order containing the respondent's identifying information and the name, date of birth, sex, and race of each protected person provided to the court to the primary law-enforcement agency providing service and entry of protective orders and upon receipt of the order, the primary law-enforcement agency shall enter the name of the person subject to the order and other appropriate information required by the Department of State Police into the Virginia Criminal Information Network established and maintained by the Department pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 52-12 et seq.) of Title 52 and the order shall be served forthwith upon the respondent. Upon service, the agency making service shall enter the date and time of service and other appropriate information required by the Department of State Police into the Virginia Criminal Information Network and make due return to the court. If the order is later dissolved or modified, a copy of the dissolution or modification order shall also be attested, forwarded forthwith to the primary law-enforcement agency responsible for service and entry of protective orders, and upon receipt of the order by the primary law-enforcement agency, the agency shall forthwith verify and enter any modification as necessary to the identifying information and other appropriate information required by the Department of State Police into the Virginia Criminal Information Network as described above and the order shall be served forthwith and due return made to the court.
C D. Except as otherwise provided in §
16.1-253.2, a violation of a protective order issued under this section shall
constitute contempt of court.
D E. The court may assess costs and attorneys'
fees against either party regardless of whether an order of protection has been
issued as a result of a full hearing.
E F. Any judgment, order or decree, whether
permanent or temporary, issued by a court of appropriate jurisdiction in
another state, the United States or any of its territories, possessions or
Commonwealths, the District of Columbia or by any tribal court of appropriate
jurisdiction for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts or
harassment against or contact or communication with or physical proximity to
another person, including any of the conditions specified in subsection A,
shall be accorded full faith and credit and enforced in the Commonwealth as if
it were an order of the Commonwealth, provided reasonable notice and
opportunity to be heard were given by the issuing jurisdiction to the person
against whom the order is sought to be enforced sufficient to protect such
person's due process rights and consistent with federal law. A person entitled
to protection under such a foreign order may file the order in any juvenile and
domestic relations district court by filing with the court an attested or
exemplified copy of the order. Upon such a filing, the clerk shall forthwith
forward an attested copy of the order to the primary law-enforcement agency
responsible for service and entry of protective orders which shall, upon
receipt, enter the name of the person subject to the order and other
appropriate information required by the Department of State Police into the
Virginia Criminal Information Network established and maintained by the
Department pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 52-12 et seq.) of Title 52. Where
practical, the court may transfer information electronically to the Virginia
Criminal Information Network.
Upon inquiry by any law-enforcement agency of the Commonwealth, the clerk shall make a copy available of any foreign order filed with that court. A law-enforcement officer may, in the performance of his duties, rely upon a copy of a foreign protective order or other suitable evidence which has been provided to him by any source and may also rely upon the statement of any person protected by the order that the order remains in effect.
F G. Either party may at any time file a written
motion with the court requesting a hearing to dissolve or modify the order.
Proceedings to dissolve or modify a protective order shall be given precedence
on the docket of the court.
G H. As used in this section,:
"copy Copy" includes a facsimile copy;
and
"Protective order" includes an initial, modified, or extended protective order.
H I. Neither a law-enforcement agency, the
attorney for the Commonwealth, a court nor the clerk's office, nor any employee
of them, may disclose, except among themselves, the residential address,
telephone number, or place of employment of the person protected by the order
or that of the family of such person, except to the extent that disclosure is
(i) required by law or the Rules of the Supreme Court, (ii) necessary for
law-enforcement purposes, or (iii) permitted by the court for good cause.
I J. No fee shall be charged for filing or
serving any petition or order pursuant to this section.
§ 19.2-152.10. Protective order in cases of stalking, sexual battery and acts of violence.
A. The court may issue a protective order pursuant to this chapter to protect the health and safety of the petitioner and family or household members of a petitioner upon (i) the issuance of a warrant for sexual battery in violation of § 18.2-67.4, aggravated sexual battery in violation of § 18.2-67.3, a criminal offense resulting in a serious bodily injury to the petitioner, or a violation of § 18.2-60.3, (ii) a hearing held pursuant to subsection D of § 19.2-152.9, or (iii) a conviction for sexual battery in violation of § 18.2-67.4, aggravated sexual battery in violation of § 18.2-67.3, a criminal offense resulting in a serious bodily injury to the petitioner, or a violation of § 18.2-60.3. A protective order issued under this section may include any one or more of the following conditions to be imposed on the respondent:
1. Prohibiting criminal offenses that may result in injury to person or property, acts of sexual battery, or acts of stalking in violation of § 18.2-60.3;
2. Prohibiting such contacts by the respondent with the petitioner or family or household members of the petitioner as the court deems necessary for the health or safety of such persons; and
3. Any other relief necessary to prevent criminal offenses that may result in injury to person or property, acts of sexual battery, or acts of stalking, communication or other contact of any kind by the respondent.
B. The protective order may be issued for a specified period;
however, unless otherwise authorized by law, a protective order may not be
issued under this section for a period longer than of time up to a
maximum of two years. The protective order shall expire at 11:59 p.m. on
the last day specified or at 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the two-year period
if no date is specified. Prior to the expiration of the protective order, a
petitioner may file a written motion requesting a hearing to extend the order.
Proceedings to extend a protective order shall be given precedence on the
docket of the court. The court may extend the protective order for a period not
longer than two years to protect the health and safety of the petitioner or
persons who are family or household members of the petitioner at the time the
request for an extension is made. The extension of the protective order shall
expire at 11:59 p.m. on the last day specified or at 11:59 p.m. on the last day
of the two-year period if no date is specified. Nothing herein shall limit the
number of extensions that may be requested or issued.
C. A copy of the protective order shall be served on the respondent and provided to the petitioner as soon as possible. The court shall forthwith, but in all cases no later than the end of the business day on which the order was issued, enter and transfer electronically to the Virginia Criminal Information Network the respondent's identifying information and the name, date of birth, sex, and race of each protected person provided to the court and shall forthwith forward the attested copy of the protective order and containing any such identifying information to the primary law-enforcement agency responsible for service and entry of protective orders. Upon receipt of the order by the primary law-enforcement agency, the agency shall forthwith verify and enter any modification as necessary to the identifying information and other appropriate information required by the Department of State Police into the Virginia Criminal Information Network established and maintained by the Department pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 52-12 et seq.) of Title 52 and the order shall be served forthwith upon the respondent and due return made to the court. However, if the order is issued by the circuit court, the clerk of the circuit court shall forthwith forward an attested copy of the order containing the respondent's identifying information and the name, date of birth, sex, and race of each protected person provided to the court to the primary law-enforcement agency providing service and entry of protective orders and upon receipt of the order, the primary law-enforcement agency shall enter the name of the person subject to the order and other appropriate information required by the Department of State Police into the Virginia Criminal Information Network established and maintained by the Department pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 52-12 et seq.) of Title 52 and the order shall be served forthwith on the respondent. Upon service, the agency making service shall enter the date and time of service and other appropriate information required into the Virginia Criminal Information Network and make due return to the court. If the order is later dissolved or modified, a copy of the dissolution or modification order shall also be attested, forwarded forthwith to the primary law-enforcement agency responsible for service and entry of protective orders, and upon receipt of the order by the primary law-enforcement agency, the agency shall forthwith verify and enter any modification as necessary to the identifying information and other appropriate information required by the Department of State Police into the Virginia Criminal Information Network as described above and the order shall be served forthwith and due return made to the court.
C D. Except as otherwise provided, a violation
of a protective order issued under this section shall constitute contempt of
court.
D E. The court may assess costs and attorneys'
fees against either party regardless of whether an order of protection has been
issued as a result of a full hearing.
E F. Any judgment, order or decree, whether
permanent or temporary, issued by a court of appropriate jurisdiction in
another state, the United States or any of its territories, possessions or
Commonwealths, the District of Columbia or by any tribal court of appropriate
jurisdiction for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts or
harassment against or contact or communication with or physical proximity to
another person, including any of the conditions specified in subsection A,
shall be accorded full faith and credit and enforced in the Commonwealth as if
it were an order of the Commonwealth, provided reasonable notice and
opportunity to be heard were given by the issuing jurisdiction to the person against
whom the order is sought to be enforced sufficient to protect such person's due
process rights and consistent with federal law. A person entitled to protection
under such a foreign order may file the order in any appropriate district court
by filing with the court, an attested or exemplified copy of the order. Upon
such a filing, the clerk shall forthwith forward an attested copy of the order
to the primary law-enforcement agency responsible for service and entry of
protective orders which shall, upon receipt, enter the name of the person
subject to the order and other appropriate information required by the
Department of State Police into the Virginia Criminal Information Network
established and maintained by the Department pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 52-12 et
seq.) of Title 52. Where practical, the court may transfer information
electronically to the Virginia Criminal Information Network.
Upon inquiry by any law-enforcement agency of the Commonwealth, the clerk shall make a copy available of any foreign order filed with that court. A law-enforcement officer may, in the performance of his duties, rely upon a copy of a foreign protective order or other suitable evidence which has been provided to him by any source and may also rely upon the statement of any person protected by the order that the order remains in effect.
F G. Either party may at any time file a written
motion with the court requesting a hearing to dissolve or modify the order.
Proceedings to modify or dissolve a protective order shall be given precedence
on the docket of the court.
G H. Neither a law-enforcement agency, the
attorney for the Commonwealth, a court nor the clerk's office, nor any employee
of them, may disclose, except among themselves, the residential address,
telephone number, or place of employment of the person protected by the order
or that of the family of such person, except to the extent that disclosure is
(i) required by law or the Rules of the Supreme Court, (ii) necessary for
law-enforcement purposes, or (iii) permitted by the court for good cause.
H I. No fees shall be charged for filing or
serving petitions pursuant to this section.
I J. As used in this section,:
"copy Copy" includes a facsimile copy;
and
"Protective order" includes an initial, modified or extended protective order.