<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>351365</law_id><section_number>19.2-18</section_number><catch_line>Powers and duties generally</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="54" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="7" identifier="2">Conservators of the Peace and Special Policemen</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="2" identifier="2">Powers and Duties</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Every conservator of the peace shall have authority to <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> without a warrant in such instances as are set out in &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Recognizance to keep the peace; when required" href="/19.2-19/">19.2-19</a> and <a class="law" title="Arrest without warrant authorized in certain cases" href="/19.2-81/">19.2-81</a>. Upon making an <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> without a warrant, the conservator of the peace shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Same; arrest without a warrant" href="/19.2-22/">19.2-22</a> or &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Procedure upon arrest without warrant" href="/19.2-82/">19.2-82</a> as the case may be.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-20; 1960, c. 366; 1968, c. 639; 1972, c. 549; 1975, c. 495.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>Lucas v. Riverhill Poultry, Inc.</name><case_number>200336</case_number><citation></citation><date>2021-07-01</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4896517/lucas-v-riverhill-poultry-inc/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. PRESENT: Lemons, C.J., Goodwyn, Mims, Kelsey, McCullough, and Chafin, JJ., and Millette, .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item><item key="1"><name>Terrell v. Petrie</name><case_number>Civ. A. 3:90CV00629</case_number><citation>763 F. Supp. 1342</citation><date>1991-05-17</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1586514/terrell-v-petrie/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 763 F.Supp. 1342 (1991) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html>District Court, E.D. Virginia</court_html></item><item key="2"><name>Thomas v. Town of Marion</name><case_number>Record 822115</case_number><citation>308 S.E.2d 120</citation><date>1983-10-14</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1295362/thomas-v-town-of-marion/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 308 S.E.2d 120 (1983) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
