The Virginia Criminal Law and Procedure relating to whether a suspect will be taken into custody and held or given a ticket and released is complicated. That statute also requires a written complaint when a law enforcement officer requests that the magistrate issue a felony offense.If you're convicted of a crime or plead guilty, you may want to be placed on house arrest. Issuance and Service of a Summons in Place of Warrants in Misdemeanor Cases. Virginia Code § 19.2-74. Unfortunately, this can be a mistake in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases in Virginia. Criminal offenses in Virginia are classified as felonies (more serious crimes) and misdemeanors (less serious crimes). If you are facing a prison or jail sentence in Virginia, house arrest may be a better option. Have you been charged with a misdemeanor? Here, we explain what you need to know about how the court process will work in your criminal case.