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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>347426</law_id><section_number>15.2-1607</section_number><catch_line>Providing legal fees and expenses for sheriffs and deputies</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="46" identifier="15.2">Counties, Cities and Towns</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="II">Powers of Local Government</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="7" identifier="16">Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>If any sheriff or deputy sheriff is arrested or indicted or otherwise prosecuted on any charge arising out of any act committed in the discharge of his official duties, and such charge is subsequently dismissed or there is rendered a <span class="dictionary">verdict</span> of not guilty, such sheriff or deputy sheriff may submit to the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of the <span class="dictionary">locality</span> in which he was elected or appointed a statement of legal fees and expenses incurred in his defense of such charge. The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> may authorize that such legal fees and expenses, or any portion thereof, be paid from the treasury of such <span class="dictionary">locality</span>. If the affected sheriff or deputy sheriff disagrees with the action of the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>, the officer may <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> for the <span class="dictionary">county</span> or <span class="dictionary">city</span> to award the fees and cost. The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>, sitting without a <span class="dictionary">jury</span>, shall hold a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> on the matter. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> for good cause shown may <span class="dictionary">order</span> the <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> to pay all or any appropriate portion of the fees and cost.</p></section></text><history>1975, c. 30, &#xA7; 15.1-66.3; 1983, c. 232; 1997, c. 587.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
