TITLE 6. CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES BOARD.

Final Regulation

Title of Regulation: 6VAC20-20. Rules Relating to Compulsory Minimum Training Standards for Law-Enforcement Officers (amending 6VAC20-20-21, 6VAC20-20-40).

Statutory Authority: § 9.1-102 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 1, 2027.

Agency Contact: Kristi Shalton, Law Enforcement Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Criminal Justice Services, 1100 Bank Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-7801, fax (804) 786-0410, or email kristi.shalton@dcjs.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments (i) update the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Compulsory Minimum Training Standards and Field Training Performance Outcomes for Law Enforcement document, which contains the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services detailed requirements for training academy programs, incorporated by reference into Rules Relating to Compulsory Minimum Training Standards for Law-Enforcement Officers (6VAC20-20) and (ii) increase the timeframe for completion of training to 18 months from the date of hire or appointment as a law-enforcement officer.

Changes to the requirements for training academy programs are for performance outcomes, training objectives, testing criteria, and lesson plan guides in each individual category of training in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Compulsory Minimum Training Standards and Field Training Performance Outcomes for Law Enforcement document. These changes and improvements include enhanced training in community policing, verbal de-escalation, implicit bias, duty to intervene, conflict resolution skills with a concentration on individuals with mental illness, historical events that have influenced citizen and police relationships, and the establishment of a new category of training, Officer Wellness. Other changes improve and update language, in addition to amending the existing number of field training hours required for new law-enforcement officers in Virginia, as recommended by the Law-Enforcement Curriculum Review Committee and subject matter experts and approved by the Criminal Justice Services Board.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: No public comments were received by the promulgating agency.

6VAC20-20-21. Compulsory minimum training standards and requirements.

A. Pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 2 of § 9.1-102 of the Code of Virginia, the department, under the direction of the board, establishes the compulsory minimum training standards for full-time and part-time law-enforcement officers.

B. An individual hired as a law-enforcement officer as defined in § 9.1-101 of the Code of Virginia shall comply with the following law-enforcement certification requirements:

1. Successfully complete law-enforcement basic training at a certified criminal justice training academy, which includes receiving a minimum of 480 hours of department approved department-approved training by meeting or exceeding the performance outcomes identified in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Compulsory Minimum Training Standards and [ Field Training ] Performance Outcomes [ for Law Enforcement ], [ draft revision ] dated [ November 1, 2024 August 2025 ] hereby incorporated by reference, in the following categories:

a. Professionalism;

b. Legal;

c. Communication;

d. Patrol;

e. Investigations;

f. Defensive tactics and use of force;

g. Weapons; and

h. Driver training; and

i. Wellness.

2. Successfully complete a minimum of 100 240 hours of approved training in the category of Field Training by meeting or exceeding the field training performance outcomes identified in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Field Training and On the Job Training Compulsory Minimum Training Standards and [ Field Training ] Performance Outcomes [ for Law Enforcement ].

C. Law-enforcement officers become certified upon meeting all compulsory minimum training standards and other requirements that include documented completion of all performance outcomes, the law enforcement law-enforcement certification exam, and field training.

6VAC20-20-40. Time requirement for completion of training.

A. Law-enforcement officers required to comply with the requirements of 6VAC20-20-21 shall satisfactorily complete the requirements within 12 18 months of the date of hire or appointment as a law-enforcement officer.

B. The director, or the director's designee, may grant an extension of the time limit for completion of the compulsory minimum training standards and other requirements for the following reasons:

1. Medical condition;

2. Injury;

3. Military service; or

4. Administrative leave involving the determination of worker's compensation or disability retirement issues or suspension pending investigation or adjudication of a crime.

C. The director or the director's designee may review and consider other reasons (e.g., natural disaster, family medical leave, etc.) for granting an extension. If approval is granted, the extension shall not exceed 90 days.

D. The director or the director's designee may review and consider requests to renew training extensions if the reason for the original training extension continues and the request occurs before the expiration of the original extension.

E. The director shall not grant an extension for:

1. Failing to pass compulsory minimum training standards and requirements within specified time limits.

2. Failing the certification examination.

F. The agency administrator may request an extension from the director or the director's designee.

1. The request shall be in writing and include written documentation articulating the reason the individual is unable to complete the required training within the specified time limits.

2. The request shall be submitted to the department before the expiration of the specified time limits.

G. Law-enforcement officers who do not satisfactorily complete compulsory minimum training standards, field training, and other requirements within 12 18 months of hire or appointment as a law-enforcement officer, or who do not receive an extension of the time limit for completion of the requirements, shall be subject to the provisions of § 9.1-115 of the Code of Virginia.

H. The department shall notify the agency administrator of individuals not in compliance with the requirements of this section.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (6VAC20-20)

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Field Training and On the Job Training Performance Outcomes, published September 2012, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (Revised January 2018)

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Compulsory Minimum Training Standards and [ Field Training ] Performance Outcomes [ for Law Enforcement ], Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (rev. 8/2025)