Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-257 — Interference with or obstruction of officer; concealment or removal of child
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 4: Immediate Custody, Arrest, Detention and Shelter Care, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-257
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.
No person shall interfere with or obstruct any officer, juvenile probation officer or other officer or employee of the court in the discharge of his duties under this law, nor remove or conceal or cause to be removed or concealed any child in order that he or she may not be brought before the court, nor interfere with or remove or attempt to remove any child who is in the custody of the court or of an officer or who has been lawfully committed under this law. Any person willfully violating any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is interference with or obstruction of officer a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Interference with or obstruction of officer is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-257.
Which Virginia statute covers interference with or obstruction of officer?
Interference with or obstruction of officer is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 16.1-257 (Interference with or obstruction of officer; concealment or removal of child).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.