Title 23 — Internal Security and Public Order
16 chapters · 458 sections in this title.
23 V.I.C. § 1301 Definitions
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(a) The following term shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have the following respective meanings;(a) Private investigative agency means and includes any person, firm, company, partnership or corporation, engaged in the business of furnishing for hire private investiga…
23 V.I.C. § 1302 Powers and duties of Commissioner
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(a) The Commissioner is hereby vested with power, jurisdiction and authority to issue and revoke licenses to private investigative agencies, watchman, guard or patrol agencies, private detectives and watchman, guard or patrol contractors therefor, to deny such applicants a licens…
23 V.I.C. § 1303 Application for license
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(1) Each person, partner, or in the case of corporation each corporate officer, shall file with the Commissioner a written application accompanied by a fee of $25 to cover costs. The fee shall not be rebatable. The written application shall be in accordance with the following pro…
23 V.I.C. § 1304 License requirements
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Every corporation applying for a license hereunder must be organized or authorized to do business, under the laws of the Virgin Islands. All applicants for licenses under this chapter who are natural persons, and all officers of corporate applicants must be citizens or permanent …
23 V.I.C. § 1305 Notification to Commissioner of new partner or corporate officer
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After filing the application, unless the Commissioner declines to issue the license, or revokes it after issuance, all private investigative agencies, and all watchman, guard or patrolman agencies, shall notify the Commissioner within ten days of the removal, replacement or addit…
23 V.I.C. § 1306 License fees
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(a) The license fees applicable to the licenses required under the provisions of this subchapter shall be established by regulations promulgated from time to time in accordance with law by the Police Commissioner, with the approval of the Governor. Such license fees shall not exc…
23 V.I.C. § 1307 Investigation of applicants by Commissioner
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The Police Commissioner shall make such individual investigation of applicants for licenses under this chapter as he may deem necessary.
23 V.I.C. § 1308 Issuance of license
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(a) When the Commissioner shall be satisfied of the good character, competency and integrity of the applicant, or if the applicant be a firm or partnership, the individual members thereof, or, if the applicant be a corporation, the officers thereof, he shall inform the applicant …
23 V.I.C. § 1309 Licensee's bond
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(a) The licensee's bond referred to in section 1308 of this chapter shall be surety bond executed by the applicant and two or more sureties, or by a surety company authorized to do business in the Virgin Islands, payable to the Government of the Virgin Islands in the sum of $50,0…
23 V.I.C. § 1310 Supervision of agencies
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Each agency must be under the direct supervision of the owner or corporate officer upon whose qualifications the agency is licensed.
23 V.I.C. § 1311 License; contents; posting
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(a) The license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be for a period of one year and shall be in such form as may be determined by the Commissioner, but shall at least specify the name under which the applicant is to operate, the address of the principal place of business, the d…
23 V.I.C. § 1312 Inapplicability of this chapter
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(a) This part shall not apply:(1) To any detective or officer belonging to the agencies of the United States or the Government of the Virgin Islands, while any such officer is engaged in the performance of his official duties.(2) To special police officers appointed by the Commis…
23 V.I.C. § 1313 Renewal of license
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A license granted under the provisions of this chapter may be renewed by the Commissioner upon application therefor by the holder thereof, in such form as the Commissioner may prescribe, and payment of fee and filing of surety bond in amount equivalent to that specified in sectio…
23 V.I.C. § 1314 Change of location of licensee
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In the event the licensee desires to change the location of any place of business indicated in his application on file with the Commissioner, he shall notify the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall send to him suitable forms designed by the Commissioner, the purpose of which sha…
23 V.I.C. § 1315 Power of Commissioner to deny, suspend or revoke license
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(a) The Commissioner may deny, refuse to renew, or may suspend or may revoke a license for any one or more of the following grounds:(1) Fraud or wilful misrepresentation in application for or in obtaining a license;(2) Wilfully and knowingly violating any of the provisions of thi…
23 V.I.C. § 1316 Cancellation of license
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In the event the licensee desires to cancel the license, he shall notify the Commissioner and the Commissioner shall supply him with proper forms as designed by the Commissioner to effectuate the cancellation of said licensee. Upon cancellation of said license, the licensee shall…
23 V.I.C. § 1317 Denial of application; hearing; appeal
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(a) The Commissioner shall, upon denying an application for a license or before revoking or suspending any license, and at least fifteen days prior to the date set for any hearing, and upon due notice to the complainant or objector, notify in writing the applicant for, or the hol…
23 V.I.C. § 1318 Death of licensee; carrying on of business
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(a) Upon the death of an individual or individuals, of whose qualification a license under this chapter has been obtained, the business with which the decedent was connected may be carried on for a period of ninety days by the following:(1) In the case of an individual licensee t…
23 V.I.C. § 1319 Funds disposition
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All funds derived from license fees paid pursuant to this chapter shall be covered into the General Fund of the Treasury.
23 V.I.C. § 1320 Divulging information; prohibited; false reports; penalty
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No licensee or any employee of such licensee shall divulge to any such license shall divulge to any person, except as otherwise provided by law, other than to his principal or his employer any information acquired as a result of any investigation, surveillance, or other employmen…
23 V.I.C. § 1321 Weapon not authorized
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It is hereby specifically provided that nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize any licensee to carry any firearm whatsoever. Any licensee who carries a firearm in the course of his or her employment must comply with the psychological and drug and alcohol abuse te…
23 V.I.C. § 1322 Violation; penalty
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Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or by imprisonment not to exceed 1 year, or by both a fine and imprisonment.
23 V.I.C. § 1323 Enforcement of chapter; investigation
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(a) The Commissioner shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this chapter irrespective of the place or location in which said violation occurred and upon complaint of any person or on its own initiative to cause to be investigated any violation thereof or to cause to be…
23 V.I.C. § 1324 Attorney General; enforcement
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The Attorney General shall be attorney for the Commissioner in the enforcement of this chapter and shall conduct any investigations incidental to its enforcement.
23 V.I.C. § 1325 Waiver of experience requirements
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The Commissioner shall waive the experience requirements specified in section 1304 of this chapter in the case of any applicant for a license under this chapter if the applicant meets the other requirements of this chapter and if the applicant is conducting a private investigativ…
23 V.I.C. § 1330 Qualifications of employees
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(a) The holder of a valid license issued pursuant to this chapter may employ as many persons as may be necessary in the conduct of the licensee's business, pursuant to the following conditions:(1) No person shall be employed by a licensee if he—(A) is under 18 years of age; Provi…
23 V.I.C. § 1331 Exempt employees [Renumbered]
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23 V.I.C. § 1331 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 History—Added May 3, 1971, No. 3002, Sess. L. 1971, p. 138; No. 9056, § 1, effective November 10, 2025.Virgin Islands Code Annotated…
23 V.I.C. § 1332 Violation; penalties [Renumbered]
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23 V.I.C. § 1332 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 History—Added May 3, 1971, No. 3002, Sess. L. 1971, p. 138; No. 9056, § 1, effective November 10, 2025.Virgin Islands Code Annotated…
23 V.I.C. § 1333 Power and Duties of Commissioner
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(1) The Commissioner shall:(1) Implement and administer or approve the minimum courses of study and training for the program in the handling of lethal weapons, law enforcement and protection of the rights of citizens.(2) Implement and administer or approve physical and psychologi…
23 V.I.C. § 1334 Certificate of Qualification
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(a) Any person desiring to enroll in such program shall apply to the Commissioner on a form to be prescribed by the Commissioner. (b) The application shall be signed and verified by the applicant. It shall include his full name, age, residence, present and previous occupations an…
23 V.I.C. § 1335 Certification and Fee
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(a) Before the receipt of a certificate, each individual satisfactorily completing the program shall pay a certification fee of not more than $50. (b) The Commissioner shall furnish to each individual satisfactorily completing the program, an appropriately sized copy of the certi…
23 V.I.C. § 1336 Good Standing
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(a) Privately employed agents must possess a valid certificate whenever on duty or going to and from duty and carrying a lethal weapon. (b) Whenever an employer of a privately employed agent, subject to the provisions of this act, is discharged for cause, the employer shall notif…
23 V.I.C. § 1337 Exempt employees [Renumbered]
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Employees of a licensee who are engaged exclusively in stenographic, typing, filing, clerical or other activities which do not constitute the work of a private investigator, watchman, guard or patrolman shall not be subject to the provisions of section 1330 of this subchapter.
23 V.I.C. § 1338 Violation; penalties [Renumbered]
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Any person who shall violate any provision of this subchapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or by imprisonment not to exceed one year, or by both fine and imprisonment.