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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.4 — Violation of protective orders; penalty

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 6: Extortion and Other Threats, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.4

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.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.4Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. Any person who violates any provision of a protective order issued pursuant to § 19.2-152.8 , 19.2-152.9 , or 19.2-152.10 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Conviction hereunder shall bar a finding of contempt for the same act. The punishment for any person convicted of a second offense of violating a protective order, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10 , when the offense is committed within five years of the prior conviction and when either the instant or prior offense was based on an act or threat of violence, shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of 60 days. Any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense of violating a protective order, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10 , when the offense is committed within 20 years of the first conviction and when either the instant or one of the prior offenses was based on an act or threat of violence, is guilty of a Class 6 felony and the punishment shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement of six months. The mandatory minimum terms of confinement prescribed for violations of this section shall be served consecutively with any other sentence. B. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who, while knowingly armed with a firearm or other deadly weapon, violates any provision of a protective order with which he has been served issued pursuant to § 19.2-152.8 , 19.2-152.9 , or 19.2-152.10 , other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10 , is guilty of a Class 6 felony. C. If the respondent commits an assault and battery upon any party protected by the protective order, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10 , resulting in bodily injury to the party or stalks any party protected by the protective order in violation of § 18.2-60.3 , he is guilty of a Class 6 felony. Any person who violates such a protective order, other than a protective order issued pursuant to subsection C of § 19.2-152.10 , by furtively entering the home of any protected party while the party is present, or by entering and remaining in the home of the protected party until the party arrives, is guilty of a Class 6 felony, in addition to any other penalty provided by law. D. Upon conviction of any offense hereunder for which a mandatory minimum term of confinement is not specified, the person shall be sentenced to a term of confinement and in no case shall the entire term imposed be suspended. E. Upon conviction, the court shall, in addition to the sentence imposed, enter a protective order pursuant to § 19.2-152.10 for a specified period not exceeding two years from the date of conviction. F. A violation of this section may be prosecuted in the jurisdiction where the protective order was issued, in any county, city, or town where any act constituting the violation of the protective order occurred, or in the jurisdiction where the party protected by the protective order resided at the time of such violation. G. Upon a violation of this section, if a Military Protective Order issued by a commanding officer in the Armed Forces of the United States, the Virginia National Guard, or the National Guard of any other state against a person under such officer's command and registered in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) has been issued against the same defendant, the law-enforcement officer or agency shall inform the military law-enforcement officer or agency that entered the Military Protective Order into the NCIC or the commanding officer who issued the Military Protective Order of such violation telephonically, in writing, via email, via text, or by any other routine means of interagency communication.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is violation of protective orders a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: violation of protective orders ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.4.

First or second violation of protective order: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.4A) · Third or subsequent violation within 20 years involving violence: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.4A) · Violation while armed with a firearm or deadly weapon: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.4B) · Assault and battery or stalking in violation of protective order: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.4C) · Furtive entry or unlawful remaining in protected party's home: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.4C)

Which Virginia statute covers violation of protective orders?

Violation of protective orders is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-60.4 (Violation of protective orders; penalty).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.