Virginia legal term
Victim in Virginia Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session
In Virginia criminal law, “Victim” 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 “Victim” mean in Virginia criminal law?
"Victim" means a person who suffers personal, physical, mental, emotional, or pecuniary loss as a direct result of a crime and includes the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the victim. (Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-368.19)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Concealing or compounding offenses
- Identity theft
- Stalking
- Aggravated malicious wounding
- Enticing, etc., another into a dwelling house with intent to commit certain felonies
- Sentencing proceeding by the jury after conviction
- Sex offenses prohibiting proximity to children
- Sex offenses prohibiting working on school property
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.