TITLE 6. CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES BOARD

Proposed Regulation

Title of Regulation: 6VAC20-50. Rules Relating to Compulsory Minimum Training Standards for Jailors or Custodial Officers, Courthouse and Courtroom Security Officers and Process Service Officers (amending 6VAC20-50-20, 6VAC20-50-40).

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

Public Hearing Information: No public hearing is currently scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: December 5, 2025.

Agency Contact: Kristi Shalton, 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.

Basis: Pursuant to § 9.1-102 of the Code of Virginia, the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), under the direction of the Criminal Justice Services Board, has the power and duty to adopt regulations and establish compulsory minimum training standards subsequent to employment as a law-enforcement officer, courthouse and courtroom security, or deputy sheriff and jail officer in permanent positions and in temporary or probationary status and establish the time required for completion of such training.

Purpose: In order to have cohesiveness between the compulsory minimum training standards and requirements for new law-enforcement recruits at the academy level and individuals entering a career as a jailor, court security, or civil process service officer, DCJS has determined that the compulsory minimum training standards need amendment. The proposed amendments ensure that language is statutorily correct and encompass a complete review of the regulation, so DCJS has determined that the update of the regulation is essential to protect the safety and welfare of citizens in Virginia.

Substance: Proposed amendments (i) incorporate three DCJS documents as enforceable text into the regulation; (ii) remove existing categories of training from regulatory text and replace that text with a statement that all civil process and courtroom security officers must attend and successfully complete basic training curriculum for law enforcement or jail officers, where those categories of training will be taught and tested; (iii) add a category of officer wellness to the training for jail officers; and (iv) extend to 18 months the timeframe in which to complete training to coincide with the newly-revised standards.

Substantive changes in the regulation are found in the incorporated documents, including (i) updates to the compulsory minimum training standards for jailors, civil process officers, and courtroom or courthouse security officers and to the respective field training for each of those job descriptions; (ii) changes to ensure greater measurability to existing performance outcomes and training objectives; (iii) reduction to one category of training for civil process and courtroom security officers in operations; and (iv) revision of field training for all three types of employment.

Issues: The advantages of this action include improved, more efficient training for new jail officers and standardized training regulations for individuals hired for civil process and courtroom or courthouse security officer functions, regardless of what agency has hired the individuals or to which criminal justice training academy the individuals report or are assigned. There are no disadvantages associated with the regulatory changes that effect individual private citizens, businesses, other agencies within the Commonwealth, or government officials.

Department of Planning and Budget Economic Impact Analysis:

The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Code of Virginia and Executive Order 19. The analysis presented represents DPB's best estimate of the potential economic impacts as of the date of this analysis.¹

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The Criminal Justice Services Board (board) proposes to (i) add wellness to the required categories of training to be completed by jail officers; (ii) replace the requirement to complete courthouse and courtroom security officers training and instead require that courthouse and courtroom security officers successfully complete either law enforcement or jail officer basic training, plus the Courtroom Security Operations category of training; (iii) replace the requirement to complete process service officer training and instead require that civil process officers successfully complete either law enforcement or jail officer training, plus the Civil Process Operations category of training; (iv) increase the maximum amount of time within which training must be completed from 12 months to 18 months; and (v) establish a 120 minimum number of hours for jail officer field training.

Background. Deputy sheriffs, jail officers, courthouse or courtroom security officers, and civil process officers (deputy sheriffs designated to serve process) all must complete both basic training and field training for certification. The following subsections describe the current basic training requirements and the proposed changes to those requirements. Basic training is conducted at certified criminal justice training academies. Field training requirements are in documents incorporated by reference (DIBRs). The proposed regulation includes links to new DIBRs. Field training is typically conducted by the hiring agency.

Deputy Sheriffs and Jail Officers: The current regulation states that individuals hired as deputy sheriffs or jail officers as defined in § 53.1-1 of the Code of Virginia shall meet or exceed compulsory minimum training standards at a certified criminal justice training academy and complete field training requirements. Certification requires deputy sheriffs and jail officers successfully complete jail officer department approved training at a certified criminal justice training academy in the following categories: a. Professionalism; b. Legal; c. Communication; d. Jail Operations; e. Investigations; f. Defensive Tactics and Use of Force; g. Weapons; and h. Driver Training and Transportation. The board proposes to add wellness to the category list.

As defined in § 53.1-1 of the Code of Virginia² deputy sheriffs and jail officers are distinct, but their training requirements are identical. In this document when jail officers are mentioned it can be inferred that deputy sheriffs are also included.

Courthouse or Courtroom Security Officers: The current regulation states that individuals hired as courthouse or courtroom security officers shall meet or exceed compulsory minimum training standards at a certified criminal justice training academy and complete field training requirements. Certification requires courthouse and courtroom security officers successfully complete courthouse and courtroom security officers department approved training at a certified criminal justice training academy in the following categories: a. Professionalism; b. Legal; c. Communication; d. Court Security Operations; e. Investigations; f. Defensive Tactics and Use of Force; g. Weapons; and h. Driver Training and Transportation. The board proposes to remove the listed courthouse or courtroom security officers department approved training and instead require that courthouse and courtroom security officers successfully complete either approved law enforcement or jail officer training, and the Courtroom Security Operations category of training.

Civil Process Officers: The current regulation states that individuals hired as deputy sheriffs and designated to serve process shall meet or exceed compulsory minimum training standards at a certified criminal justice training academy and complete field training requirements. Certification requires deputy sheriffs designated to serve process³ successfully complete process service officer department approved training at a certified criminal justice training academy in the following categories: a. Professionalism; b. Legal; c. Communication; d. Civil Process Operations; e. Defensive Tactics and Use of Force; f. Weapons; and g. Driver Training. The board proposes to remove the listed civil process officer department approved training and instead require that civil process officers successfully complete either approved law enforcement or jail officer training, and the Civil Process Operations category of training.

Training Deadline: Under the current regulation, deputy sheriffs, jail officers, courthouse and courtroom security officers, and civil process officers must satisfactorily complete basic training and field training within 12 months of the date of appointment or hire, unless the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) director or the director's designee grants an extension of the time limit for completion of the compulsory minimum training standards and requirements. An extension can be granted for the following reasons: (i) medical condition, (ii) injury, (iii) military service, or (iv) administrative leave involving the determination of worker's compensation or disability retirement issues or suspension pending investigation or adjudication of a crime. The director or 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. The director shall not grant an extension for failing to pass compulsory minimum training standards within the specified time limits. Deputy sheriffs, jail officers, courthouse and courtroom security officers, and civil process officers who do not satisfactorily complete the requirements (i.e., compulsory minimum training standards, field training, and other requirements) within 12 months of hire or appointment, or who do not receive an extension of the time limit for completion of the requirements, forfeit their office. Such forfeiture creates a vacancy in the office, and all pay and allowances to that individual shall cease.⁴ The board proposes to extend the deadline to 18 months.

Estimated Benefits and Costs. Addition of Wellness Training: The proposed new jail officer training category of wellness includes (i) physical fitness standards, (ii) identifying the causes of stress, its impacts, as well as reduction strategies, and (iii) identifying signs related to suicidal ideation (of inmates as well as fellow officers). According to DCJS, some academies have already incorporated wellness into their curriculums. To the extent that some have not, adding instruction on physical fitness, stress reduction strategies, and identifying signs related to suicidal ideation would likely be beneficial for jail officers, particularly since it is a high-stress occupation. DCJS does not believe that any of the academies would need to hire additional or different staff to teach the components of wellness. Those academies that are not already teaching wellness would still require additional staff time if they do not reduce time spent on other subjects.

Training for Courthouse or Courtroom Security Officers and Civil Process Officers: With one exception, in the current regulation jail officer training, courthouse or courtroom security officer training, and civil process officer training have the same required categories. The exception is that jail officer training includes Jail Operations, while courthouse or courtroom security officers training includes Courtroom Security Operations, and civil process officer training includes Civil Process Operations. The training requirements for law-enforcement officers are in a different regulation, Rules Relating to Compulsory Minimum Training Standards for Law-Enforcement Officers (6VAC20-20). Similarly, with one exception, the current required categories of training for law-enforcement officers, jail officers, courthouse or courtroom security officers, and civil process officers are the same. The exception is that law-enforcement officer training includes Patrol, versus jail officer training Jail Operations, courthouse or courtroom security officer training Courtroom Security Operations, and civil process officer training Civil Process Operations. Thus, by requiring that courthouse or courtroom security officers complete law enforcement or jail officer basic training plus Courtroom Security Operations, rather than the existing required courtroom security officers training, courthouse or courtroom security officers would be required to complete one additional category (either Patrol or Jail Operations). Analogously, by requiring that civil process security officers complete law enforcement or jail officer basic training plus Civil Process Operations, rather than the existing required civil process officer training, civil process officers would be required to complete one additional category (either Patrol or Jail Operations). According to DCJS, this is what already occurs at the training academies, and would therefore have no impact. There is a concurrent regulatory action to amend Rules Relating to Compulsory Minimum Training Standards for Law-Enforcement Officers (6VAC20-20) that would, along with other amendments, add wellness to the law-enforcement officer training categories.⁵ Thus, if approved, both the jail officer training and the law-enforcement officer training would include wellness. Consequently, courthouse or courtroom security officers and civil process officers would also be required to have training on Wellness. All of the implications of the required wellness training described would apply to courthouse or courtroom security officers and civil process officers, as well as jail officers.

Extension of Training Deadline: According to DCJS, the department currently receives many requests for extensions of the training deadline. Consequently, in addition to giving greater flexibility to employing agencies and their newly hired officers, the proposal to extend the timeframe within which newly hired officers must complete all certification requirements from 12 months to 18 months would also likely reduce the workload of DJCS field representatives who review such submissions. On the other hand, this proposal would allow individuals who are incapable of demonstrating the knowledge and skills that are presumably considered necessary for competent practice to remain employed as a deputy sheriff, jail officer, courthouse and courtroom security officer, or civil process officer for six additional months.

Field Training: DCJS has indicated that field training has been revised and improved for all three functions, but a comparison of existing and proposed requirements was not available. The agency did state that it believes that the proposed changes would not increase the amount of time needed for training. In the current regulation and DIBR there are no minimum number of hours of to be spent on field training. The proposed DIBR for jail officers establishes a 120-hour minimum for field training. As there is no current minimum, DCJS is not aware whether any employing agencies currently provide fewer than 120 hours of jail officer field training. If there any such employers, they would have to increase their training hours under the proposed regulation.

Businesses and Other Entities Affected. The proposed amendments affect the 39 certified criminal justice training academies, their staff, newly hired deputy sheriffs, jail officers, courthouse and courtroom security officers, and civil process officers, and their employing agencies. According to DCJS, basic training was successfully completed at the training academies by 784 jail officers and deputy sheriffs, and by 420 courthouse or courtroom security officers and civil process officers in 2022. The Code of Virginia requires DPB to assess whether an adverse impact may result from the proposed regulation.⁶ An adverse impact is indicated if there is any increase in net cost or reduction in net revenue for any entity, even if the benefits exceed the costs for all entities combined. Though there appear to be substantial benefits introduced in the proposed regulation, there also appear to be some costs. Employers of jail officers who are currently providing fewer than 120 hours of field training would need to expend additional staff time to provide that amount of training. Also, allowing individuals who are incapable of demonstrating the knowledge and skills that are considered necessary for competent practice to remain employed as a deputy sheriff, jail officer, courthouse and courtroom security officer, or civil process officer for six additional months could be problematic and costly. Thus, an adverse impact is indicated for employers of jail officers who are currently providing fewer than 120 hours of field training and for anyone negatively impacted by having some less than fully competent officers working an additional six months.

Small Businesses⁷ Affected.⁸ The proposed amendments do not appear to adversely affect small businesses.

Localities⁹ Affected.¹⁰ Localities that have jails that currently provide fewer than 120 hours of field training would be particularly affected.

Projected Impact on Employment. The proposed amendments do not appear to substantively affect total employment.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. The proposed amendments are unlikely to substantively affect the use and value of private property. The proposed amendments do not affect real estate development costs.

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¹ Section 2.2-4007.04 of the Code of Virginia requires that such economic impact analyses determine the public benefits and costs of the proposed amendments. Further the analysis should include but not be limited to: (1) the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the proposed regulatory action would apply, (2) the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, (3) the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, (4) the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and (5) the impact on the use and value of private property.

² See https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title53.1/chapter1/section53.1-1/.

³ The actual text has "courthouse and courtroom security officers" here. DCJS acknowledged that was in error and the regulation has been applied as if the text had "deputy sheriffs designated to serve process".

⁴ See § 9.1-115 of the Code of Virginia.

⁵ See https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewAction.cfm?actionid=5665.

⁶ Pursuant to § 2.2-4007.04 D: In the event this economic impact analysis reveals that the proposed regulation would have an adverse economic impact on businesses or would impose a significant adverse economic impact on a locality, business, or entity particularly affected, the Department of Planning and Budget shall advise the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules, the House Committee on Appropriations, and the Senate Committee on Finance. Statute does not define "adverse impact," state whether only Virginia entities should be considered, nor indicate whether an adverse impact results from regulatory requirements mandated by legislation.

⁷ Pursuant to § 2.2-4007.04, small business is defined as "a business entity, including its affiliates, that (i) is independently owned and operated and (ii) employs fewer than 500 full-time employees or has gross annual sales of less than $6 million."

⁸ If the proposed regulatory action may have an adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include: (1) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the proposed regulation, (2) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the proposed regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents, (3) a statement of the probable effect of the proposed regulation on affected small businesses, and (4) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the proposed regulation. Additionally, pursuant to § 2.2-4007.1 of the Code of Virginia, if there is a finding that a proposed regulation may have an adverse impact on small business, the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules shall be notified.

⁹ "Locality" can refer to either local governments or the locations in the Commonwealth where the activities relevant to the regulatory change are most likely to occur.

¹⁰ Section 2.2-4007.04 defines "particularly affected" as bearing disproportionate material impact.

Agency Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) agrees with the economic impact analysis (EIA) prepared by the Department of Planning and Budget (DPB). The proposed amendments affect the 39 certified criminal justice training academies, their staff, newly hired deputy sheriffs, jail officers, courthouse and courtroom security officers, and civil process officers, and their employing agencies. DCJS agrees that basic training was successfully completed at the training academies by 784 jail officers and deputy sheriffs, and by 420 courthouse or courtroom security officers and civil process officers in 2022, at the time this information was requested by DPB. This action was first submitted to DPB as a NOIRA in May 2021, and since approved by the Committee on Training and the Criminal Justice Services Board, no additional changes have been made to the training standards or the regulatory text.

DPB's assessment that the proposed amendments neither adversely affect small businesses nor real estate development costs is accurate and DCJS agrees that the only localities affected are those that have jails that currently provide fewer than 120 hours of field training for their new officers. DCJS supports DPB's assessment and is in agreement with the published EIA.

Summary:

The proposed amendments (i) add wellness to the required categories of training to be completed by jail officers; (ii) replace the requirement to complete courthouse and courtroom security officers training and instead require that courthouse and courtroom security officers successfully complete basic training for either law enforcement or jail officers and the Courtroom Security Operations category of training; (iii) replace the requirement to complete process service officer training with a requirement that civil process officers successfully complete training for either law enforcement or jail officers and the Civil Process Operations category of training; (iv) increase the maximum amount of time within which training must be completed to 18 months; and (v) establish 120 minimum number of hours for jail officer field training.

The revisions to the standards being incorporated into the regulation to be enforced by the department include (i) new performance outcomes for both civil process and courtroom or courthouse security officers addressing the recording and reporting of injuries; (ii) more sheriff deputy safety procedures; (iii) the new category of Officer Wellness for jail officers; and (iv) incorporation of additional performance-based tasks into the Field Training categories of training for jailor, civil process, and courtroom or courthouse security officers.

6VAC20-50-20. Compulsory minimum training standards.

A. Pursuant to the provisions of subdivisions 7, 8, and 9 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 deputy sheriffs and jail officers as defined in § 53.1-1 of the Code of Virginia; persons designated to provide courthouse and courtroom security pursuant to § 53.1-120 of the Code of Virginia; and persons designated to serve process pursuant to § 8.01-293 of the Code of Virginia.

B. Individuals hired as deputy sheriffs or jail officers as defined in § 53.1-1 of the Code of Virginia shall meet or exceed compulsory minimum training standards at a certified criminal justice training academy and complete field training requirements. Certification requires deputy sheriffs and jail officers to comply with the following:

1. Successfully complete a jail officer department approved department-approved training curriculum at a certified criminal justice training academy, as identified in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Compulsory Minimum Training Standards and Field Training Performance Outcomes for Jail Officers, dated August 2025, hereby incorporated by reference, in the following categories:

a. Professionalism;

b. Legal;

c. Communication;

d. Jail operations;

e. Investigations;

f. Defensive tactics and use of force;

g. Weapons; and

h. Driver training and transportation; and

i. Wellness.

2. Meet or exceed the performance outcomes detailed in the category of field training identified in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Field Training and On the Job Training Performance Outcomes.

C. Individuals hired as courthouse and courtroom security officers shall meet or exceed compulsory minimum training standards at a certified criminal justice training academy and complete field training requirements. Certification requires courthouse and courtroom security officers to comply with the following:

1. Successfully complete courthouse and courtroom security officers department approved a department-approved law enforcement or jail officer basic training curriculum at a certified criminal justice training academy in the following categories: a. Professionalism; b. Legal; c. Communication; d. Court security operations; e. Investigations; f. Defensive tactics and use of force; g. Weapons; and h. Driver training and transportation and complete the Courtroom Security Operations category of training, as identified in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Compulsory Minimum Training Standards and Field Training Performance Outcomes for Courtroom Security Officers, dated August 2025, hereby incorporated by reference.

2. Meet or exceed the performance outcomes detailed in the category of field training identified in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Field Training and On the Job Training Performance Outcomes for courtroom and courthouse security officers.

D. Individuals hired as deputy sheriffs and designated to serve process shall meet or exceed compulsory minimum training standards at a certified criminal justice training academy and complete field training requirements. Certification requires courthouse and courtroom security civil process officers to comply with the following:

1. Successfully complete process service officer department approved a department-approved law enforcement or jail officer basic training curriculum at a certified criminal justice training academy in the following categories: a. Professionalism; b. Legal; c. Communication; d. Civil process operations; e. Defensive tactics and use of force; f. Weapons; and g. Driver training and complete the Civil Process Operations category of training, as identified in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Compulsory Minimum Training Standards and Field Training Performance Outcomes for Civil Process Officers, dated August 2025, hereby incorporated by reference.

2. Meet or exceed the performance outcomes detailed in the category of field training identified in the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Field Training and On the Job Training Performance Outcomes for civil process officers.

6VAC20-50-40. Time requirement for completion of training.

A. Deputy sheriffs, jail officers, courthouse and courtroom security officers, and deputy sheriffs designated to serve process who are required to comply with the compulsory minimum training standards, field training, and other requirements shall satisfactorily complete such training within 12 18 months of the date of appointment or hire as deputy sheriffs, jail officers, courthouse and courtroom security officers, and deputy sheriffs designated to serve process unless provided otherwise in accordance with subsection B of this section.

B. The director or director's designee may grant an extension of the time limit for completion of the compulsory minimum training standards and 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 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 failing to pass compulsory minimum training standards within the specified time limits.

F. Deputy sheriffs, jail officers, courthouse and courtroom security officers, and deputy sheriffs designated to serve process who do not satisfactorily complete the compulsory minimum training standards, field training, and other requirements within 12 18 months of hire or appointment as a deputy sheriff, jail officer, courthouse and courtroom security officer, or deputy sheriff designated to serve process, 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.

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

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (6VAC20-50)

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 Jail Officers, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (rev. 8/2025)

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Compulsory Minimum Training Standards and Field Training Performance Outcomes for Civil Process Officers, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (rev. 8/2025)

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Compulsory Minimum Training Standards and Field Training Performance Outcomes for Courtroom Security Officers, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (rev. 8/2025)