Bill Text: VA SB386 | 2024 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Magistrates; certain minimum standards for security and accessibility in quarters.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-28 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0237) [SB386 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SB386-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §19.2-48.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§19.2-48.1. Quarters for magistrates.
A. The counties and cities served by a magistrate or
magistrates shall provide suitable quarters for such magistrates, including a
site for any videoconferencing and other
equipment necessary to provide secure,
remote access and the transmission
of paperwork to such magistrates by
the public and law-enforcement officers. Insofar as possible, such Such quarters should
shall be located in a public
facility open to the public and should be appropriate to
conduct the affairs of a judicial officer as well as provide convenient, 24-hour access to the public
and law-enforcement officers. Where practicable,
such quarters shall be in a courthouse or a law-enforcement office where
business is regularly conducted and shall include an entrance, exit, and
parking for magistrates that is separate from those for
members of the public. Such quarters shall
provide for the physical security of the magistrate and shall include
controlled access to
interior spaces or intrusion detection, a secure physical barrier between the
magistrate and members of the public, and a readily accessible duress button
that connects the magistrate to local law enforcement. The
county or city shall also provide all furniture and other equipment necessary
for the efficient operation of the office.
B. Wherever practical, the office of magistrate shall be located at the county seat. However, offices may be located at other locations in the county, or city adjacent thereto, whenever such additional offices are necessary to effect the efficient administration of justice.
