Know Your Rights
Provided by Commonwealth Training & Preparedness Group
Course description
Knowing your rights is essential. Understanding how to exercise them when it matters is a skill every community member should develop.
A traffic stop, an unexpected question, or a request to search can leave anyone uncertain about what to say or do. Commonwealth’s Know Your Rights course helps you understand your rights, your responsibilities, and the legal boundaries that apply during police encounters in Virginia.
Through clear explanations and practical scenarios, you will explore identification requests, searches, questioning, recording police activity, encounters at home, and situations involving a lawfully carried firearm. Learn to distinguish between a request you may decline and a legal obligation, communicate your choices clearly, and recognize when exceptions or circumstances can change the answer.
This important community class is designed for drivers, passengers, parents, lawful firearm owners, and anyone who wants to make more informed decisions. You will practice calm responses and learn how to preserve useful information after an encounter.
Do not wait until you are in an unfamiliar situation to start learning your rights. Invest in knowledge that helps you approach everyday encounters with greater awareness, confidence, and preparation.
This course provides general legal education, not individual legal advice. It does not provide concealed-handgun permit qualification or DCJS credit.
Learning with purpose.
Our focus is a strong foundation: understanding your responsibilities, asking good questions, and learning in a supportive environment.
What to bring
Students should bring:
- A notebook and pen.
- Reading glasses or accessibility aids, if helpful.
- An optional smartphone for discussions about recording and preserving information.
- Questions about general situations you would like to understand better.
No firearm, ammunition, or range equipment is required. There is no live fire or firearm handling. Follow the venue’s posted policy regarding any lawfully carried firearm.
Prerequisites
No previous course, legal education, shooting experience, or firearm ownership is required. This class welcomes beginners and students of all experience levels.
Confirm your date, location, and preparation instructions with the training team before attending.
Need a different date or a private class?
Tell us about your group and your goals.