Domestic Violence Policy Updated June 2006

The sample directive, Domestic Violence, General Order 2-32, has just been updated to reflect changes in Virginia law during the past few years. In particular, this order has an expanded treatment of protective orders for incidents of domestic violence and stalking and revisions of updated legal references. Agencies familiar with the previous version of the order may wish to compare the newer with the older one: revised or added sections have been so marked.

Note that a second domestic violence order has been added, General Order 2-32A. This directive, based on GO 2-32, has been designed specifically for sheriffs with court security and civil process functions who perform no routine law enforcement tasks such as patrol. A recent DCJS survey of domestic violence policies statewide found that although state law requires all law enforcement agencies to have written policies on domestic violence, by and large sheriffs without formal law enforcement functions reported that they had no such policies. To aid sheriffs in creating reasonable guidance for deputies who encounter domestic violence and related problems in or around courthouse properties, or within the context of process service, this new order has been created.

To read General Order 2-32, click here (.doc or .rtf, 25 pages).

To read General Order 2-32A, click here (.doc or .rtf, 18 pages).

For further information on these orders or other sample directives, contact Tim Paul, Crime Prevention and Law Enforcement Services.

For further information on the recent DCJS survey of domestic violence policies in law enforcement agencies, contact Eleanore Ashman, Victims Services.

Sexual Assault Policy Updated February 2005

The sample directive, Sexual Assault, General Order 2-31, has just been updated from the 1999 edition to reflect changes in Virginia law during the past few years. It has also been modified to incorporate elements formerly contained in appendices into the main body of the Order. It is recommended that agencies with policies based on this sample review the new version and make changes they may deem necessary.

To read General Order 2-31, click here (.pdf or .rtf, 13 pages).

For further information on these orders or other sample directives, contact Tim Paul, Crime Prevention and Law Enforcement Services.

For further information on DCJS technical assistance for sexual assault cases, contact Eleanore Ashman, Victims Services.

Bias Reduction Policy Added

For more information, including a concept paper and the report to the Governor on Bias-Based Policing, please see this memo (.htm).

The following orders were revised effective July, 2001:

RR 1-11, Off-Duty Employment
RR 2-24, Hazardous Materials

Revisions have been noted in the text.

Additionally, two new orders are in effect. RR 1-13, formerly titled "Media Relations," has been re-written under the title, "Response to Information Requests." GO 2-27, formerly listed as "Reserved for Future Use," is now an order addressing school resource officers.

The table of contents and index have also been updated.

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