Final answer:
The Chief of Police or head of a law enforcement agency is tasked with maintaining various law enforcement records, including arrest and reportable incident records, in accordance with Section 15.2-1722.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Section 15.2-1722, the Chief of Police or equivalent head of a law enforcement agency is responsible for the maintenance of arrest records, investigative records, non-criminal incident records, personnel records, and reportable incident records.
This responsibility encompasses ensuring the accuracy, security, and accessibility of these records. Such records are critical for various functions like internal affairs, criminal investigations, and public transparency.
Maintaining accurate records also facilitates reporting to databases such as the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), which aid in the analysis and improvement of crime prevention and policing strategies.
According to 15.2-1722, the accrediting body or review panel responsible for the maintenance of arrest records, investigative records, non-criminal incident records, personnel records, and reportable incident records is the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). This department ensures that law enforcement agencies comply with recordkeeping requirements and sets the standards for maintaining these records.