{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-303.01.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-303.01.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-303.01.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-303.01.html"}],"law_id":64740,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64740,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303.01","catch_line":"Reduction of sentence; substantial assistance to prosecution","history":"2018, cc. 492, 493; 2020, c. 765.","full_text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of court, upon motion of the attorney for the Commonwealth, the sentencing court may reduce the defendant’s sentence if the defendant, after entry of the final judgment order, provided substantial assistance in investigating or prosecuting another person for (i) an act of violence as defined in \u00a7 19.2-297.1, an act of larceny of a firearm in violation of \u00a7 18.2-95, or any violation of \u00a7 18.2-248, 18.2-248.01, 18.2-248.02, 18.2-248.03, 18.2-248.1, 18.2-248.5, 18.2-251.2, 18.2-251.3, 18.2-255, 18.2-255.2, 18.2-258, 18.2-258.02, 18.2-258.1, or 18.2-258.2, or any substantially similar offense in any other jurisdiction, which offense would be a felony if committed in the Commonwealth; (ii) a conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed in clause (i); or (iii) violations as a principal in the second degree or accessory before the fact of any of the offenses listed in clause (i). In determining whether the defendant has provided substantial assistance pursuant to the provisions of this section, the court shall consider (a) the court’s evaluation of the significance and usefulness of the defendant’s assistance, taking into consideration the Commonwealth’s evaluation of the assistance rendered; (b) the truthfulness, completeness, and reliability of any information or testimony provided by the defendant; (c) the nature and extent of the defendant’s assistance; (d) any injury suffered or any danger or risk of injury to the defendant or his family resulting from his assistance; and (e) the timeliness of the defendant’s assistance. If the motion is made more than one year after entry of the final judgment order, the court may reduce a sentence only if the defendant’s substantial assistance involved (1) information not known to the defendant until more than one year after entry of the final judgment order, (2) information provided by the defendant within one year of entry of the final judgment order but that did not become useful to the Commonwealth until more than one year after entry of the final judgment order, or (3) information the usefulness of which could not reasonably have been anticipated by the defendant until more than one year after entry of the final judgment order and which was promptly provided to the Commonwealth by the defendant after its usefulness was reasonably apparent.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":235601,"text":"Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of court, upon motion of the attorney for the Commonwealth, the sentencing court may reduce the defendant’s sentence if the defendant, after entry of the final judgment order, provided substantial assistance in investigating or prosecuting another person for (i) an act of violence as defined in \u00a7 19.2-297.1, an act of larceny of a firearm in violation of \u00a7 18.2-95, or any violation of \u00a7 18.2-248, 18.2-248.01, 18.2-248.02, 18.2-248.03, 18.2-248.1, 18.2-248.5, 18.2-251.2, 18.2-251.3, 18.2-255, 18.2-255.2, 18.2-258, 18.2-258.02, 18.2-258.1, or 18.2-258.2, or any substantially similar offense in any other jurisdiction, which offense would be a felony if committed in the Commonwealth; (ii) a conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed in clause (i); or (iii) violations as a principal in the second degree or accessory before the fact of any of the offenses listed in clause (i). In determining whether the defendant has provided substantial assistance pursuant to the provisions of this section, the court shall consider (a) the court’s evaluation of the significance and usefulness of the defendant’s assistance, taking into consideration the Commonwealth’s evaluation of the assistance rendered; (b) the truthfulness, completeness, and reliability of any information or testimony provided by the defendant; (c) the nature and extent of the defendant’s assistance; (d) any injury suffered or any danger or risk of injury to the defendant or his family resulting from his assistance; and (e) the timeliness of the defendant’s assistance. If the motion is made more than one year after entry of the final judgment order, the court may reduce a sentence only if the defendant’s substantial assistance involved (1) information not known to the defendant until more than one year after entry of the final judgment order, (2) information provided by the defendant within one year of entry of the final judgment order but that did not become useful to the Commonwealth until more than one year after entry of the final judgment order, or (3) information the usefulness of which could not reasonably have been anticipated by the defendant until more than one year after entry of the final judgment order and which was promptly provided to the Commonwealth by the defendant after its usefulness was reasonably apparent.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14013,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14012,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:36","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:36","permalink":{"id":169443,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14013,"identifier":"1","token":"19.2\/18\/1","url":"\/19.2\/18\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14012,"edition_id":1,"name":"Sentence; 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contents; uses","url":"\/19.2-299.1\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-299.1","metadata":false},{"id":71480,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-299.2","catch_line":"Alcohol and substance abuse screening and assessment for designated Class 1 misdemeanor convictions","url":"\/19.2-299.2\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-299.2","metadata":false},{"id":56093,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-299.3","catch_line":"Report of arrest and conviction of school employees by probation and parole officers for certain offenses","url":"\/19.2-299.3\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-299.3","metadata":false},{"id":64531,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-300","catch_line":"Deferring for mental examination sentence of person convicted of offense indicating sexual abnormality","url":"\/19.2-300\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-300","metadata":false},{"id":65087,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-301","catch_line":"Judge shall require examination under \u00a7 19.2-300; by whom made; report; expenses of psychiatrist","url":"\/19.2-301\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-301","metadata":false},{"id":59002,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-302","catch_line":"Construction and administration of \u00a7\u00a7 19.2-300 and 19.2-301","url":"\/19.2-302\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-302","metadata":false},{"id":63915,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303","catch_line":"Suspension or modification of sentence; probation; taking of fingerprints and blood, saliva, or tissue sample as condition of probation","url":"\/19.2-303\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303","metadata":false},{"id":64740,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303.01","catch_line":"Reduction of sentence; substantial assistance to prosecution","url":"\/19.2-303.01\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.01","metadata":false},{"id":74000,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303.02","catch_line":"Modification of conditions of suspended sentence or probation to require fingerprinting","url":"\/19.2-303.02\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.02","metadata":false},{"id":74432,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303.1","catch_line":"Fixing period of suspension of sentence","url":"\/19.2-303.1\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.1","metadata":false},{"id":55101,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303.2","catch_line":"Persons charged with first offense may be placed on probation","url":"\/19.2-303.2\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.2","metadata":false},{"id":70874,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303.3","catch_line":"Sentence to local community-based probation services; services agency; requirements for participation; sentencing; and removal from probation; payment of costs towards supervision and services","url":"\/19.2-303.3\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.3","metadata":false},{"id":63262,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303.4","catch_line":"Payment of costs when proceedings deferred and defendant placed on probation","url":"\/19.2-303.4\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.4","metadata":false},{"id":84397,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303.5","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/19.2-303.5\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.5","metadata":false},{"id":73653,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303.6","catch_line":"Deferred disposition in a criminal case; persons with autism or intellectual disabilities","url":"\/19.2-303.6\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.6","metadata":false},{"id":71283,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-304","catch_line":"Increasing or decreasing probation period and modification of conditions","url":"\/19.2-304\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-304","metadata":false},{"id":75628,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-305","catch_line":"Requiring fines, costs, restitution for damages, support, or community services from probationer","url":"\/19.2-305\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-305","metadata":false},{"id":82621,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-305.1","catch_line":"Restitution for property damage or loss; community service","url":"\/19.2-305.1\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-305.1","metadata":false},{"id":59341,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-305.2","catch_line":"Amount of restitution; enforcement","url":"\/19.2-305.2\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-305.2","metadata":false},{"id":64153,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-305.3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/19.2-305.3\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-305.3","metadata":false},{"id":85689,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-305.4","catch_line":"When interest to be paid on award of restitution","url":"\/19.2-305.4\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-305.4","metadata":false},{"id":66441,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-306","catch_line":"Revocation of suspension of sentence and probation","url":"\/19.2-306\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-306","metadata":false},{"id":85808,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-306.1","catch_line":"Limitation on sentence upon revocation of suspension of sentence; exceptions","url":"\/19.2-306.1\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-306.1","metadata":false},{"id":85846,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-306.2","catch_line":"Use of sentencing revocation report and discretionary sentencing guidelines in cases of revocation of suspension of sentence and probation","url":"\/19.2-306.2\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-306.2","metadata":false},{"id":56424,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-307","catch_line":"Contents of judgment order","url":"\/19.2-307\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-307","metadata":false},{"id":78445,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-308","catch_line":"When two or more sentences run concurrently","url":"\/19.2-308\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-308","metadata":false},{"id":79069,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-308.1","catch_line":"When sentence may run concurrently with sentence in another jurisdiction","url":"\/19.2-308.1\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-308.1","metadata":false},{"id":86121,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-309","catch_line":"Sentence of confinement for conviction of a combination of felony and misdemeanor offenses","url":"\/19.2-309\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-309","metadata":false},{"id":63077,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-309.1","catch_line":"Sentence of confinement to jail farms maintained by the Cities of Danville, Martinsville and Newport News","url":"\/19.2-309.1\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-309.1","metadata":false},{"id":63650,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-310","catch_line":"Transfer of prisoners to custody of Director of Department of Corrections","url":"\/19.2-310\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-310","metadata":false},{"id":65167,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-310.01","catch_line":"Transmission of sentencing documents","url":"\/19.2-310.01\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-310.01","metadata":false},{"id":80141,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-310.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/19.2-310.1\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-310.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63915,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303","catch_line":"Suspension or modification of sentence; probation; taking of fingerprints and blood, saliva, or tissue sample as condition of probation","url":"\/19.2-303\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":74000,"structure_id":14013,"section_number":"19.2-303.02","catch_line":"Modification of conditions of suspended sentence or probation to require fingerprinting","url":"\/19.2-303.02\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.02","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-303.01\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2018. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 492<\/a> and 493<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2020, chapter 765<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":68693,"section_number":"18.2-248","catch_line":"Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-248\/"},{"id":76843,"section_number":"18.2-248.01","catch_line":"Transporting controlled substances into the Commonwealth; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-248.01\/"},{"id":56536,"section_number":"18.2-248.02","catch_line":"Allowing a minor or incapacitated person to be present during manufacture or attempted manufacture of methamphetamine or fentanyl prohibited; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-248.02\/"},{"id":71689,"section_number":"18.2-248.03","catch_line":"Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute methamphetamine; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-248.03\/"},{"id":60632,"section_number":"18.2-248.1","catch_line":"Penalties for sale, gift, distribution or possession with intent to sell, give or distribute marijuana","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-248.1\/"},{"id":61670,"section_number":"18.2-248.5","catch_line":"Illegal stimulants and steroids; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-248.5\/"},{"id":60795,"section_number":"18.2-251.2","catch_line":"Possession and distribution of flunitrazepam; enhanced penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-251.2\/"},{"id":81533,"section_number":"18.2-251.3","catch_line":"Possession and distribution of gamma-butyrolactone; 1, 4-butanediol; enhanced penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-251.3\/"},{"id":55615,"section_number":"18.2-255","catch_line":"Distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-255\/"},{"id":79362,"section_number":"18.2-255.2","catch_line":"Prohibiting the sale or manufacture of drugs on or near certain properties; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-255.2\/"},{"id":57190,"section_number":"18.2-258","catch_line":"Certain premises deemed common nuisance; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-258\/"},{"id":54216,"section_number":"18.2-258.02","catch_line":"Maintaining a fortified drug house; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-258.02\/"},{"id":61427,"section_number":"18.2-258.1","catch_line":"Obtaining drugs, procuring administration of controlled substances, etc., by fraud, deceit or forgery","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-258.1\/"},{"id":70798,"section_number":"18.2-258.2","catch_line":"Assisting individuals in unlawfully procuring prescription drugs; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-258.2\/"},{"id":78364,"section_number":"18.2-95","catch_line":"Grand larceny defined; how punished","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-95\/"},{"id":56020,"section_number":"19.2-297.1","catch_line":"Sentence of person twice previously convicted of certain violent felonies","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-297.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":169525,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64740,"identifier":"19.2-303.01","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.01","url":"\/19.2-303.01\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-303.01\/","token":"19.2\/18\/1\/19.2-303.01","dublin_core":{"Title":"Reduction of sentence; substantial assistance to prosecution","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-303.01","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Notwithstanding any other provision of law<\/span> or rule of court<\/span>, upon motion<\/span> of the attorney for the Commonwealth, the sentencing court<\/span> may reduce the defendant<\/span>’s sentence if the defendant<\/span>, after entry of the final judgment<\/span> order<\/span>, provided substantial assistance in investigating or prosecuting another person for (i) an act of violence as defined in \u00a7 19.2-297.1<\/a>, an act of larceny<\/span> of a firearm in violation of \u00a7 18.2-95<\/a>, or any violation of \u00a7 18.2-248<\/a>, 18.2-248.01<\/a>, 18.2-248.02<\/a>, 18.2-248.03<\/a>, 18.2-248.1<\/a>, 18.2-248.5<\/a>, 18.2-251.2<\/a>, 18.2-251.3<\/a>, 18.2-255<\/a>, 18.2-255.2<\/a>, 18.2-258<\/a>, 18.2-258.02<\/a>, 18.2-258.1<\/a>, or 18.2-258.2<\/a>, or any substantially similar offense<\/span> in any other jurisdiction<\/span>, which offense<\/span> would be a felony<\/span> if committed in the Commonwealth; (ii) a conspiracy to commit any of the offenses<\/span> listed in clause (i); or (iii) violations as a principal in the second degree or accessory before the fact<\/span> of any of the offenses<\/span> listed in clause (i). In determining whether the defendant<\/span> has provided substantial assistance pursuant to the provisions of this section, the court<\/span> shall consider (a) the court<\/span>’s evaluation of the significance and usefulness of the defendant<\/span>’s assistance, taking into consideration the Commonwealth’s evaluation of the assistance rendered; (b) the truthfulness, completeness, and reliability of any information or testimony<\/span> provided by the defendant<\/span>; (c) the nature and extent of the defendant<\/span>’s assistance; (d) any injury suffered or any danger or risk of injury to the defendant<\/span> or his family resulting from his assistance; and (e) the timeliness of the defendant<\/span>’s assistance. If the motion<\/span> is made more than one year after entry of the final judgment<\/span> order<\/span>, the court<\/span> may reduce a sentence only if the defendant<\/span>’s substantial assistance involved (1) information not known to the defendant<\/span> until more than one year after entry of the final judgment<\/span> order<\/span>, (2) information provided by the defendant<\/span> within one year of entry of the final judgment<\/span> order<\/span> but that did not become useful to the Commonwealth until more than one year after entry of the final judgment<\/span> order<\/span>, or (3) information the usefulness of which could not reasonably have been anticipated by the defendant<\/span> until more than one year after entry of the final judgment<\/span> order<\/span> and which was promptly provided to the Commonwealth by the defendant<\/span> after its usefulness was reasonably apparent.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nREDUCTION OF SENTENCE; SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE TO PROSECUTION (\u00a7 19.2-303.01)\n\nNotwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of court, upon motion of the\nattorney for the Commonwealth, the sentencing court may reduce the\ndefendant’s sentence if the defendant, after entry of the final judgment\norder, provided substantial assistance in investigating or prosecuting another\nperson for (i) an act of violence as defined in \u00a7 19.2-297.1, an act of larceny\nof a firearm in violation of \u00a7 18.2-95, or any violation of \u00a7 18.2-248,\n18.2-248.01, 18.2-248.02, 18.2-248.03, 18.2-248.1, 18.2-248.5, 18.2-251.2,\n18.2-251.3, 18.2-255, 18.2-255.2, 18.2-258, 18.2-258.02, 18.2-258.1, or\n18.2-258.2, or any substantially similar offense in any other jurisdiction,\nwhich offense would be a felony if committed in the Commonwealth; (ii) a\nconspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed in clause (i); or (iii)\nviolations as a principal in the second degree or accessory before the fact of\nany of the offenses listed in clause (i). In determining whether the defendant\nhas provided substantial assistance pursuant to the provisions of this section,\nthe court shall consider (a) the court’s evaluation of the significance\nand usefulness of the defendant’s assistance, taking into consideration\nthe Commonwealth’s evaluation of the assistance rendered; (b) the\ntruthfulness, completeness, and reliability of any information or testimony\nprovided by the defendant; (c) the nature and extent of the defendant’s\nassistance; (d) any injury suffered or any danger or risk of injury to the\ndefendant or his family resulting from his assistance; and (e) the timeliness of\nthe defendant’s assistance. If the motion is made more than one year after\nentry of the final judgment order, the court may reduce a sentence only if the\ndefendant’s substantial assistance involved (1) information not known to\nthe defendant until more than one year after entry of the final judgment order,\n(2) information provided by the defendant within one year of entry of the final\njudgment order but that did not become useful to the Commonwealth until more\nthan one year after entry of the final judgment order, or (3) information the\nusefulness of which could not reasonably have been anticipated by the defendant\nuntil more than one year after entry of the final judgment order and which was\npromptly provided to the Commonwealth by the defendant after its usefulness was\nreasonably apparent.\n\nHISTORY: 2018, cc. 492, 493; 2020, c. 765.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}