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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>351697</law_id><section_number>19.2-331</section_number><catch_line>When Commonwealth pays witnesses in case of misdemeanor</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="26" identifier="20">Taxation and Allowance of Costs</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Payment shall not be made out of the state treasury to a <span class="dictionary">witness</span> attending for the Commonwealth in any <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> for a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> unless it appears that the sum to which the <span class="dictionary">witness</span> is entitled cannot be obtained:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> If it be a case wherein there is a prosecutor and the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is convicted, by reason of the insolvency of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>, or <a id="paragraph-1309133" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-331/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If it be a case in which there is no prosecutor, by reason of the <span class="dictionary">acquittal</span> or insolvency of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> or other cause. <a id="paragraph-1309134" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-331/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-314; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
