Satisfaction and Discharge of Assault and Certain Other Misdemeanors: Va. Code § 19.2-151
If you have been charged with an Assault, or similar misdemeanor, the possibility of an “Accord and Satisfaction” may arise. In short an Accord and Satisfaction is a monetary settlement for certain charges that would also lend themselves to a civil action. Assault for example can lead to criminal charges, but also a civil suit for and damage the victim may have suffered. An Accord and Satisfaction is a way to resolve both of these legal actions, dismissing the criminal charge. From Va. Code § 19.2-151:
When a person is in jail or under a recognizance to answer a charge of assault and battery or other misdemeanor, or has been indicted for an assault and battery or other misdemeanor for which there is a remedy by civil action, unless the offense was committed (i) by or upon any law-enforcement officer, (ii) riotously in violation of §§ 18.2-404 to 18.2-407, (iii) against a family or household member in violation of § 18.2-57.2, or (iv) with intent to commit a felony, if the person injured appears before the court which made the commitment or took the recognizance, or before the court in which the indictment is pending, and acknowledges in writing that he has received satisfaction for the injury, the court may, in its discretion, by an order, supersede the commitment, discharge the recognizance, or dismiss the prosecution, upon payment by the defendant of costs accrued to the Commonwealth or any of its officers.
