Virginia § 19.2-265.6 Dismissal of criminal charges on Commonwealth's motion; effect of dismissal of criminal charges

Virginia Statutes

§ 19.2-265.6 — Dismissal of criminal charges on Commonwealth's motion; effect of dismissal of criminal charges

Virginia § 19.2-265.6

Title 19.2Criminal Procedure

Ch. 15Trial and Its Incidents

Art. 5Miscellaneous Provisions

This text of Virginia § 19.2-265.6 (Dismissal of criminal charges on Commonwealth's motion; effect of dismissal of criminal charges) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-265.6 (2026).

Text

A.Upon motion of the Commonwealth to dismiss a charge, whether with or without prejudice, and with the consent of the defendant, a court shall grant the motion unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the motion was made as the result of (i) bribery or (ii) bias or prejudice toward a victim as defined in § 19.2-11.01 because of the race, religious conviction, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or national origin of the victim.

B.No dismissal of any criminal charge by a court shall bar subsequent prosecution of the charge unless jeopardy attached at the earlier proceeding or unless the dismissal order explicitly states that the dismissal is with prejudice.

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A. Upon motion of the Commonwealth to dismiss a charge, whether with or without prejudice, and with the consent of the defendant, a court shall grant the motion unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the motion was made as the result of (i) bribery or (ii) bias or prejudice toward a victim as defined in § 19.2-11.01 because of the race, religious conviction, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or national origin of the victim.

B. No dismissal of any criminal charge by a court shall bar subsequent prosecution of the charge unless jeopardy attached at the earlier proceeding or unless the dismissal order explicitly states that the dismissal is with prejudice.