Code of Virginia § 19.2-83.5. Use of deadly force by a law-enforcement officer during an arrest or detention.
308 words·~1 min read·
/va/title-19-2/chapter-7-1/19-2-83-5·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
A. A law-enforcement officer shall not use deadly force against a person unless:
1. The law-enforcement officer reasonably believes that deadly force is immediately necessary to protect the law-enforcement officer or another person, other than the subject of the use of deadly force, from the threat of serious bodily injury or death;
2. If feasible, the law-enforcement officer has provided a warning to the subject of the deadly force that he will use deadly force;
3. The law-enforcement officer's actions are reasonable, given the totality of the circumstances; and
4. All other options have been exhausted or do not reasonably lend themselves to the circumstances.
B. In determining if a law-enforcement officer's use of deadly force is proper, the following factors shall be considered:
1. The reasonableness of the law-enforcement officer's belief and actions from the perspective of a reasonable law-enforcement officer on the scene at the time of the incident; and
2. The totality of the circumstances, including
(i)the amount of time available to the law-enforcement officer to make a decision;
(ii)whether the subject of the use of deadly force
(a)possessed or appeared to possess a deadly weapon and
(b)refused to comply with the law-enforcement officer's lawful order to surrender an object believed to be a deadly weapon prior to the law-enforcement officer using deadly force;
(iii)whether the law-enforcement officer engaged in de-escalation measures prior to the use of deadly force, including taking cover, waiting for backup, trying to calm the subject prior to the use of force, or using non-deadly force prior to the use of deadly force;
(iv)whether any conduct by the law-enforcement officer prior to the use of deadly force intentionally increased the risk of a confrontation resulting in deadly force being used; and
(v)the seriousness of the suspected crime.
2020, Sp. Sess. I, c. 37 .