Virginia legal term
Personal knowledge in Virginia Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session
In Virginia criminal law, “Personal knowledge” 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 “Personal knowledge” mean in Virginia criminal law?
"Personal knowledge" means knowledge of a fact that a person has himself gained through his own senses, or knowledge that was gained by a law-enforcement officer or prosecutor through the performance of his official duties. (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-307.1)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.