{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-447.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-447.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-447.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-447.html"}],"law_id":350974,"edition_id":2,"section_id":350974,"structure_id":50200,"section_number":"18.2-447","catch_line":"When person guilty of bribery","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-282.2; 1968, c. 552; 1975, cc. 14, 15.","full_text":"A person shall be guilty of bribery under the provisions of this article:\n\n1\n\nIf he offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another (a) any pecuniary benefit as consideration for or to obtain or influence the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant or party official, or (b) any benefit as consideration for or to obtain or influence either the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding or the recipient’s violation of a known legal duty as a public servant or party official; or\n\n2\n\nIf he accepts or agrees to accept from another (a) any pecuniary benefit offered, conferred or agreed to be conferred as consideration for or to obtain or influence the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant or party official, or (b) any benefit offered, conferred or agreed to be conferred as consideration for or to obtain or influence either the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding or the recipient’s violation of a known legal duty as a public servant or party official; or\n\n3\n\nIf he solicits from another (a) any pecuniary benefit or promise of pecuniary benefit as consideration for or in exchange for his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant or party official, or (b) any benefit or promise of benefit as consideration for or in exchange for his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding or his violation of a known legal duty as a public servant or party official.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1307334,"text":"A person shall be guilty of bribery under the provisions of this article:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":1307335,"text":"If he offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another (a) any pecuniary benefit as consideration for or to obtain or influence the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant or party official, or (b) any benefit as consideration for or to obtain or influence either the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding or the recipient’s violation of a known legal duty as a public servant or party official; or","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":1307336,"text":"If he accepts or agrees to accept from another (a) any pecuniary benefit offered, conferred or agreed to be conferred as consideration for or to obtain or influence the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant or party official, or (b) any benefit offered, conferred or agreed to be conferred as consideration for or to obtain or influence either the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding or the recipient’s violation of a known legal duty as a public servant or party official; or","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":1307337,"text":"If he solicits from another (a) any pecuniary benefit or promise of pecuniary benefit as consideration for or in exchange for his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant or party official, or (b) any benefit or promise of benefit as consideration for or in exchange for his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding or his violation of a known legal duty as a public servant or party official.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50200,"edition_id":2,"name":"Bribery of Public Servants and Party Officials","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":50197,"metadata":{"child_laws":5,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:31","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:27","permalink":{"id":1391289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50200,"identifier":"3","token":"18.2\/10\/3","url":"\/18.2\/10\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50197,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes Against the Administration of Justice","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":10,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":65,"child_structures":7},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:26","permalink":{"id":1391223,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50197,"identifier":"10","token":"18.2\/10","url":"\/18.2\/10\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50131,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":52,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":960,"child_structures":94},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391141,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50131,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":350973,"structure_id":50200,"section_number":"18.2-446","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/18.2-446\/","token":"18.2\/10\/3\/18.2-446","metadata":false},{"id":350974,"structure_id":50200,"section_number":"18.2-447","catch_line":"When person guilty of bribery","url":"\/18.2-447\/","token":"18.2\/10\/3\/18.2-447","metadata":false},{"id":350975,"structure_id":50200,"section_number":"18.2-448","catch_line":"Certain matters not to constitute defenses","url":"\/18.2-448\/","token":"18.2\/10\/3\/18.2-448","metadata":false},{"id":350976,"structure_id":50200,"section_number":"18.2-449","catch_line":"Punishment","url":"\/18.2-449\/","token":"18.2\/10\/3\/18.2-449","metadata":false},{"id":350978,"structure_id":50200,"section_number":"18.2-450","catch_line":"Immunity of witnesses","url":"\/18.2-450\/","token":"18.2\/10\/3\/18.2-450","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":350973,"structure_id":50200,"section_number":"18.2-446","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/18.2-446\/","token":"18.2\/10\/3\/18.2-446","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":350975,"structure_id":50200,"section_number":"18.2-448","catch_line":"Certain matters not to constitute defenses","url":"\/18.2-448\/","token":"18.2\/10\/3\/18.2-448","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-447\/","history_text":"

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 1968, chapter 552; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15.<\/p>","references":[{"id":350975,"section_number":"18.2-448","catch_line":"Certain matters not to constitute defenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-448\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1391295,"object_type":"law","relational_id":350974,"identifier":"18.2-447","token":"18.2\/10\/3\/18.2-447","url":"\/18.2-447\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-447\/","token":"18.2\/10\/3\/18.2-447","dublin_core":{"Title":"When person guilty of bribery","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-447","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A person shall be guilty of bribery under the provisions of this article:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> If he offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another (a) any pecuniary benefit<\/span> as consideration for or to obtain or influence the recipient’s decision, opinion<\/span>, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant<\/span> or party official<\/span>, or (b) any benefit as consideration for or to obtain or influence either the recipient’s decision, opinion<\/span>, recommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding<\/span> or the recipient’s violation of a known legal duty as a public servant<\/span> or party official<\/span>; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> If he accepts or agrees to accept from another (a) any pecuniary benefit<\/span> offered, conferred or agreed to be conferred as consideration for or to obtain or influence the recipient’s decision, opinion<\/span>, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant<\/span> or party official<\/span>, or (b) any benefit offered, conferred or agreed to be conferred as consideration for or to obtain or influence either the recipient’s decision, opinion<\/span>, recommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding<\/span> or the recipient’s violation of a known legal duty as a public servant<\/span> or party official<\/span>; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> If he solicits from another (a) any pecuniary benefit<\/span> or promise of pecuniary benefit<\/span> as consideration for or in exchange for his decision, opinion<\/span>, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant<\/span> or party official<\/span>, or (b) any benefit or promise of benefit as consideration for or in exchange for his decision, opinion<\/span>, recommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding<\/span> or his violation of a known legal duty as a public servant<\/span> or party official<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWHEN PERSON GUILTY OF BRIBERY (\u00a7 18.2-447)\n\nA person shall be guilty of bribery under the provisions of this article:\n\n1. If he offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another (a) any pecuniary\nbenefit as consideration for or to obtain or influence the recipient’s\ndecision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a\npublic servant or party official, or (b) any benefit as consideration for or to\nobtain or influence either the recipient’s decision, opinion,\nrecommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or\nadministrative proceeding or the recipient’s violation of a known legal\nduty as a public servant or party official; or\n\n2. If he accepts or agrees to accept from another (a) any pecuniary benefit\noffered, conferred or agreed to be conferred as consideration for or to obtain\nor influence the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or\nother exercise of discretion as a public servant or party official, or (b) any\nbenefit offered, conferred or agreed to be conferred as consideration for or to\nobtain or influence either the recipient’s decision, opinion,\nrecommendation, vote or other exercise of official discretion in a judicial or\nadministrative proceeding or the recipient’s violation of a known legal\nduty as a public servant or party official; or\n\n3. If he solicits from another (a) any pecuniary benefit or promise of pecuniary\nbenefit as consideration for or in exchange for his decision, opinion,\nrecommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant or\nparty official, or (b) any benefit or promise of benefit as consideration for or\nin exchange for his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of\nofficial discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding or his violation\nof a known legal duty as a public servant or party official.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-282.2; 1968, c. 552; 1975, cc. 14, 15.","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"}}