Virginia legal term
Defendant in Virginia Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session
In Virginia criminal law, “Defendant” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Virginia criminal code.
What does “Defendant” mean in Virginia criminal law?
"Defendant" means any person who pleads guilty to, is convicted of, or is found not guilty by reason of insanity with respect to a felony resulting in physical injury to or death of another person. (Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-368.19)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Assault and battery against a family or household member
- Damaging or destroying research farm product
- Identity theft
- Injuring, etc., any property, monument, etc
- Stalking
- Violation of protective orders
- Violation of provisions of protective orders
- Abduction with intent to extort money or for immoral purpose
- Alcohol and substance abuse screening and assessment for designated Class 1 misdemeanor convictions
- Carnal knowledge of a person detained or arrested by a law-enforcement officer or an inmate, parolee, probationer, juvenile detainee, pretrial defendant or posttrial offender, or confidential informant
- Compensation of court-appointed counsel
- Medical referral for profit
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.