{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/53.1-1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/53.1-1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/53.1-1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/53.1-1.html"}],"law_id":85635,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85635,"structure_id":16088,"section_number":"53.1-1","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 53-9, 53-19.5, 53-19.18, 53-19.18:1, 53-19.23; 1966, c. 300; 1970, c. 648; 1974, cc. 44, 45; 1976, cc. 740, 756; 1977, c. 187; 1981, c. 487; 1982, c. 636; 1983, c. 477; 1991, c. 383; 1995, c. 224; 1999, c. 845; 2000, c. 807; 2020, c. 759; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, c. 23; 2025, c. 337.","full_text":"As used in this title, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Board” or “State Board” means the State Board of Local and Regional Jails.\n\t\t“Community correctional facility” means any group home, halfway house or other physically unrestricting facility used for the housing, treatment or care of adult offenders established or operated with funds appropriated to the Department of Corrections from the state treasury and maintained or operated by any political subdivision, combination of political subdivisions or privately operated agency within the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Community supervision” means probation, parole, postrelease supervision, programs authorized under the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act for local responsible offenders, and programs authorized under Article 7 (\u00a7 53.1-128 et seq.) of Chapter 3.\n\t\t“Correctional officer” means a duly sworn employee of the Department of Corrections whose normal duties relate to maintaining immediate control, supervision and custody of prisoners confined in any state correctional facility.\n\t\t“Department” means the Department of Corrections.\n\t\t“Deputy sheriff” means a duly sworn officer appointed by a sheriff pursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1603 whose normal duties include, but are not limited to, maintaining immediate control, supervision and custody of prisoners confined in any local correctional facility and may include those duties of a jail officer.\n\t\t“Director” means the Director of the Department of Corrections.\n\t\t“Jail officer” means a duly sworn employee of a local correctional facility, except for deputy sheriffs, whose normal duties relate to maintaining immediate control, supervision and custody of prisoners confined in any local correctional facility. This definition in no way limits any authority otherwise granted to a duly sworn deputy sheriff whose duties may include those of a jail officer.\n\t\t“Local correctional facility” means any jail, jail farm or other place used for the detention or incarceration of adult offenders, excluding a lock-up, which is owned, maintained, or operated by any political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions of the Commonwealth. For the purposes of subsection B of \u00a7 53.1-68 and \u00a7\u00a7 53.1-69, 53.1-69.1, and 53.1-127, “local correctional facility” also includes any facility owned, maintained, or operated by any political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions of the Commonwealth that is used for the detention or incarceration of people pursuant to a contract or third-party contract with the federal government or any agency or contractor thereof.\n\t\t“Lock-up” means a facility whose primary use is to detain persons for a short period of time as determined by the Board.\n\t\t“State correctional facility” means any correctional center or correctional field unit used for the incarceration of adult offenders established and operated by the Department of Corrections, or operated pursuant to the Corrections Private Services Act (\u00a7 53.1-261 et seq.). “State correctional facility” includes “penitentiary” whenever used in this title or other titles of the Code.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":306736,"text":"As used in this title, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Board” or “State Board” means the State Board of Local and Regional Jails.\n\t\t“Community correctional facility” means any group home, halfway house or other physically unrestricting facility used for the housing, treatment or care of adult offenders established or operated with funds appropriated to the Department of Corrections from the state treasury and maintained or operated by any political subdivision, combination of political subdivisions or privately operated agency within the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Community supervision” means probation, parole, postrelease supervision, programs authorized under the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act for local responsible offenders, and programs authorized under Article 7 (\u00a7 53.1-128 et seq.) of Chapter 3.\n\t\t“Correctional officer” means a duly sworn employee of the Department of Corrections whose normal duties relate to maintaining immediate control, supervision and custody of prisoners confined in any state correctional facility.\n\t\t“Department” means the Department of Corrections.\n\t\t“Deputy sheriff” means a duly sworn officer appointed by a sheriff pursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1603 whose normal duties include, but are not limited to, maintaining immediate control, supervision and custody of prisoners confined in any local correctional facility and may include those duties of a jail officer.\n\t\t“Director” means the Director of the Department of Corrections.\n\t\t“Jail officer” means a duly sworn employee of a local correctional facility, except for deputy sheriffs, whose normal duties relate to maintaining immediate control, supervision and custody of prisoners confined in any local correctional facility. This definition in no way limits any authority otherwise granted to a duly sworn deputy sheriff whose duties may include those of a jail officer.\n\t\t“Local correctional facility” means any jail, jail farm or other place used for the detention or incarceration of adult offenders, excluding a lock-up, which is owned, maintained, or operated by any political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions of the Commonwealth. For the purposes of subsection B of \u00a7 53.1-68 and \u00a7\u00a7 53.1-69, 53.1-69.1, and 53.1-127, “local correctional facility” also includes any facility owned, maintained, or operated by any political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions of the Commonwealth that is used for the detention or incarceration of people pursuant to a contract or third-party contract with the federal government or any agency or contractor thereof.\n\t\t“Lock-up” means a facility whose primary use is to detain persons for a short period of time as determined by the Board.\n\t\t“State correctional facility” means any correctional center or correctional field unit used for the incarceration of adult offenders established and operated by the Department of Corrections, or operated pursuant to the Corrections Private Services Act (\u00a7 53.1-261 et seq.). “State correctional facility” includes “penitentiary” whenever used in this title or other titles of the Code.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":16088,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14679,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:05:30","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:05:30","permalink":{"id":237595,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16088,"identifier":"1","token":"53.1\/1\/1","url":"\/53.1\/1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14679,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration Generally","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12717,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:17","permalink":{"id":237593,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14679,"identifier":"1","token":"53.1\/1","url":"\/53.1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12717,"edition_id":1,"name":"Prisons and Other Methods of Correction","identifier":"53.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":237591,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12717,"identifier":"53.1","token":"53.1","url":"\/53.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":85635,"structure_id":16088,"section_number":"53.1-1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/53.1-1\/","token":"53.1\/1\/1\/53.1-1","metadata":false},{"id":64783,"structure_id":16088,"section_number":"53.1-1.01","catch_line":"Certified mail; subsequent mail or notices may be sent by regular mail","url":"\/53.1-1.01\/","token":"53.1\/1\/1\/53.1-1.01","metadata":false},{"id":86025,"structure_id":16088,"section_number":"53.1-1.1","catch_line":"Telephone systems within correctional facilities","url":"\/53.1-1.1\/","token":"53.1\/1\/1\/53.1-1.1","metadata":false},{"id":63335,"structure_id":16088,"section_number":"53.1-1.2","catch_line":"Visitation policies","url":"\/53.1-1.2\/","token":"53.1\/1\/1\/53.1-1.2","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":64783,"structure_id":16088,"section_number":"53.1-1.01","catch_line":"Certified mail; subsequent mail or notices may be sent by regular mail","url":"\/53.1-1.01\/","token":"53.1\/1\/1\/53.1-1.01","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/53.1-1\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 14 times. 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. Those modifications are as follows: in 1966, chapter 300; in 1970, chapter 648; in 1974, chapters 44 and 45; in 1976, chapters 740 and 756; in 1977, chapter 187; in 1981, chapter 487; in 1982, chapter 636; in 1983, chapter 477; in 1991, chapter 383; in 1995, chapter 224<\/a>; in 1999, chapter 845<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 807<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 759<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 337<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":78495,"section_number":"15.2-1705","catch_line":"Minimum qualifications; waiver","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1705\/"},{"id":85175,"section_number":"15.2-1706","catch_line":"Certification through training required for all law-enforcement officers; waiver of requirements","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1706\/"},{"id":71374,"section_number":"15.2-1709","catch_line":"Employer immunity from liability; disclosure of information regarding former deputy sheriffs and law-enforcement officers","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1709\/"},{"id":63788,"section_number":"16.1-228","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-228\/"},{"id":54157,"section_number":"16.1-284.1","catch_line":"Placement in secure local facility","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-284.1\/"},{"id":86382,"section_number":"16.1-300","catch_line":"Confidentiality of Department records","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-300\/"},{"id":78050,"section_number":"18.2-121.3","catch_line":"Trespass with an unmanned aircraft system; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-121.3\/"},{"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":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":58255,"section_number":"18.2-250","catch_line":"Possession of controlled substances unlawful","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-250\/"},{"id":73895,"section_number":"18.2-308.03","catch_line":"Fees for concealed handgun permits","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-308.03\/"},{"id":79946,"section_number":"18.2-31","catch_line":"Aggravated murder defined; punishment","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-31\/"},{"id":66815,"section_number":"18.2-36.3","catch_line":"Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-36.3\/"},{"id":54247,"section_number":"18.2-474.2","catch_line":"Bribery in correctional facilities; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-474.2\/"},{"id":82347,"section_number":"18.2-55","catch_line":"Bodily injuries caused by prisoners, state juvenile probationers and state and local adult probationers or adult parolees","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-55\/"},{"id":64628,"section_number":"18.2-57","catch_line":"Assault and battery; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-57\/"},{"id":58241,"section_number":"18.2-57.01","catch_line":"Pointing laser at law-enforcement officer unlawful; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-57.01\/"},{"id":67857,"section_number":"18.2-57.02","catch_line":"Disarming a law-enforcement or correctional officer; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-57.02\/"},{"id":74002,"section_number":"19.2-169.6","catch_line":"Inpatient psychiatric hospital admission from local correctional facility","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-169.6\/"},{"id":77666,"section_number":"19.2-269.1","catch_line":"Inmates as witnesses in criminal cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-269.1\/"},{"id":56060,"section_number":"19.2-72","catch_line":"When it may issue; what to recite and require","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-72\/"},{"id":80529,"section_number":"19.2-76","catch_line":"Execution and return of warrant, capias or summons; arrest outside county or city where charge is to be tried","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-76\/"},{"id":62476,"section_number":"19.2-81.1","catch_line":"Arrest without warrant by correctional officers in certain cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-81.1\/"},{"id":62627,"section_number":"19.2-81.2","catch_line":"Power of correctional officers and designated noncustodial employees to detain","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-81.2\/"},{"id":55424,"section_number":"2.2-309.3","catch_line":"Additional powers and duties; adult corrections","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-309.3\/"},{"id":70842,"section_number":"24.2-314","catch_line":"Population data; reallocation of prison populations","order_by":null,"url":"\/24.2-314\/"},{"id":61546,"section_number":"4.1-1100","catch_line":"Possession, etc., of marijuana and marijuana products by persons 21 years of age or older lawful; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/4.1-1100\/"},{"id":55736,"section_number":"46.2-341.20:7","catch_line":"Possession of marijuana in commercial motor vehicle unlawful; civil penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-341.20_7\/"},{"id":86530,"section_number":"51.1-212","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-212\/"},{"id":79150,"section_number":"51.5-43","catch_line":"Discrimination against qualified persons with disabilities in exercising right to vote prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.5-43\/"},{"id":83752,"section_number":"53.1-10","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Director","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-10\/"},{"id":77665,"section_number":"54.1-3408","catch_line":"Professional use by practitioners","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3408\/"},{"id":85102,"section_number":"65.2-402.1","catch_line":"Presumption as to death or disability from infectious disease","order_by":null,"url":"\/65.2-402.1\/"},{"id":56248,"section_number":"8.01-195.3","catch_line":"Commonwealth, transportation district or locality liable for damages in certain cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-195.3\/"},{"id":75318,"section_number":"8.01-216.8","catch_line":"Certain actions barred; relief from employment discrimination; waiver of sovereign immunity","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-216.8\/"},{"id":77370,"section_number":"8.01-341","catch_line":"Who are exempt from jury service","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-341\/"},{"id":58962,"section_number":"8.01-410","catch_line":"Inmates as witnesses in civil actions","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-410\/"},{"id":54405,"section_number":"9.1-400","catch_line":"Title of chapter; definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-400\/"},{"id":54070,"section_number":"9.1-801","catch_line":"Public safety officer defined","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-801\/"},{"id":62462,"section_number":"9.1-901","catch_line":"Persons for whom registration required","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-901\/"},{"id":84820,"section_number":"9.1-907","catch_line":"Procedures upon a failure to register, reregister, or verify registration information","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-907\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":58488,"section_number":"15.2-1603","catch_line":"Appointment of deputies; their powers; how removed","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1603\/"},{"id":85147,"section_number":"53.1-127","catch_line":"Who may enter interior of local correctional facilities; searches of those entering","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-127\/"},{"id":67418,"section_number":"53.1-128","catch_line":"Workforces and authorized work places","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-128\/"},{"id":87276,"section_number":"53.1-261","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-261\/"},{"id":75446,"section_number":"53.1-68","catch_line":"Minimum standards for local correctional facilities and lock-ups; health inspections, behavioral health services inspections, and personnel","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-68\/"},{"id":69048,"section_number":"53.1-69","catch_line":"Board may prohibit confinement and require transfer of prisoners in substandard facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-69\/"},{"id":86587,"section_number":"53.1-69.1","catch_line":"Review of death of inmates in local, regional, or community correctional facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-69.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":237597,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85635,"identifier":"53.1-1","token":"53.1\/1\/1\/53.1-1","url":"\/53.1-1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/53.1-1\/","token":"53.1\/1\/1\/53.1-1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 53.1-1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this title, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Board” or “State Board<\/span>” means the State Board<\/span> of Local and Regional Jails.\n\t\t“Community correctional facility<\/span>” means any group home, halfway house or other physically unrestricting facility used for the housing, treatment or care of adult offenders established or operated with funds appropriated to the Department<\/span> of Corrections from the state treasury and maintained or operated by any political subdivision, combination of political subdivisions or privately operated agency within the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Community supervision<\/span>” means probation<\/span>, parole<\/span>, postrelease supervision, programs authorized under the Comprehensive Community Corrections Act for local responsible offenders, and programs authorized under Article 7 (\u00a7 53.1-128<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 3.\n\t\t“Correctional officer<\/span>” means a duly sworn employee of the Department<\/span> of Corrections whose normal duties relate to maintaining immediate control, supervision and custody<\/span> of prisoners confined in any state correctional facility<\/span>.\n\t\t“Department<\/span>” means the Department<\/span> of Corrections.\n\t\t“Deputy sheriff<\/span>” means a duly sworn officer appointed by a sheriff pursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1603<\/a> whose normal duties include, but are not limited to, maintaining immediate control, supervision and custody<\/span> of prisoners confined in any local correctional facility<\/span> and may include those duties of a jail officer<\/span>.\n\t\t“Director<\/span>” means the Director<\/span> of the Department<\/span> of Corrections.\n\t\t“Jail officer<\/span>” means a duly sworn employee of a local correctional facility<\/span>, except for deputy sheriffs<\/span>, whose normal duties relate to maintaining immediate control, supervision and custody<\/span> of prisoners confined in any local correctional facility<\/span>. This definition in no way limits any authority otherwise granted to a duly sworn deputy sheriff<\/span> whose duties may include those of a jail officer<\/span>.\n\t\t“Local correctional facility<\/span>” means any jail, jail farm or other place used for the detention or incarceration of adult offenders, excluding a lock-up<\/span>, which is owned, maintained, or operated by any political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions of the Commonwealth. For the purposes of subsection B of \u00a7 53.1-68<\/a> and \u00a7\u00a7 53.1-69<\/a>, 53.1-69.1<\/a>, and 53.1-127<\/a>, “local correctional facility<\/span>” also includes any facility owned, maintained, or operated by any political subdivision or combination of political subdivisions of the Commonwealth that is used for the detention or incarceration of people pursuant to a contract<\/span> or third-party<\/span> contract<\/span> with the federal government or any agency or contractor thereof.\n\t\t“Lock-up<\/span>” means a facility whose primary use is to detain<\/span> persons for a short period of time as determined by the Board.\n\t\t“State correctional facility<\/span>” means any correctional center or correctional field unit used for the incarceration of adult offenders established and operated by the Department<\/span> of Corrections, or operated pursuant to the Corrections Private Services Act (\u00a7 53.1-261<\/a> et seq.). “State correctional facility<\/span>” includes “penitentiary<\/span>” whenever used in this title or other titles of the Code.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 53.1-1)\n\nAs used in this title, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Board” or “State Board” means the State Board of\nLocal and Regional Jails.\n\t\t“Community correctional facility” means any group home, halfway\nhouse or other physically unrestricting facility used for the housing, treatment\nor care of adult offenders established or operated with funds appropriated to\nthe Department of Corrections from the state treasury and maintained or operated\nby any political subdivision, combination of political subdivisions or privately\noperated agency within the Commonwealth.\n\t\t“Community supervision” means probation, parole, postrelease\nsupervision, programs authorized under the Comprehensive Community Corrections\nAct for local responsible offenders, and programs authorized under Article 7 (\u00a7\n53.1-128 et seq.) of Chapter 3.\n\t\t“Correctional officer” means a duly sworn employee of the\nDepartment of Corrections whose normal duties relate to maintaining immediate\ncontrol, supervision and custody of prisoners confined in any state correctional\nfacility.\n\t\t“Department” means the Department of Corrections.\n\t\t“Deputy sheriff” means a duly sworn officer appointed by a sheriff\npursuant to \u00a7 15.2-1603 whose normal duties include, but are not limited to,\nmaintaining immediate control, supervision and custody of prisoners confined in\nany local correctional facility and may include those duties of a jail officer.\n\t\t“Director” means the Director of the Department of Corrections.\n\t\t“Jail officer” means a duly sworn employee of a local correctional\nfacility, except for deputy sheriffs, whose normal duties relate to maintaining\nimmediate control, supervision and custody of prisoners confined in any local\ncorrectional facility. This definition in no way limits any authority otherwise\ngranted to a duly sworn deputy sheriff whose duties may include those of a jail\nofficer.\n\t\t“Local correctional facility” means any jail, jail farm or other\nplace used for the detention or incarceration of adult offenders, excluding a\nlock-up, which is owned, maintained, or operated by any political subdivision or\ncombination of political subdivisions of the Commonwealth. For the purposes of\nsubsection B of \u00a7 53.1-68 and \u00a7\u00a7 53.1-69, 53.1-69.1, and 53.1-127,\n“local correctional facility” also includes any facility owned,\nmaintained, or operated by any political subdivision or combination of political\nsubdivisions of the Commonwealth that is used for the detention or incarceration\nof people pursuant to a contract or third-party contract with the federal\ngovernment or any agency or contractor thereof.\n\t\t“Lock-up” means a facility whose primary use is to detain persons\nfor a short period of time as determined by the Board.\n\t\t“State correctional facility” means any correctional center or\ncorrectional field unit used for the incarceration of adult offenders\nestablished and operated by the Department of Corrections, or operated pursuant\nto the Corrections Private Services Act (\u00a7 53.1-261 et seq.). “State\ncorrectional facility” includes “penitentiary” whenever used\nin this title or other titles of the Code.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 53-9, 53-19.5, 53-19.18, 53-19.18:1, 53-19.23; 1966, c.\n300; 1970, c. 648; 1974, cc. 44, 45; 1976, cc. 740, 756; 1977, c. 187; 1981, c.\n487; 1982, c. 636; 1983, c. 477; 1991, c. 383; 1995, c. 224; 1999, c. 845; 2000,\nc. 807; 2020, c. 759; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, c. 23; 2025, c. 337.","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}}