{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/53.1-129.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/53.1-129.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/53.1-129.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/53.1-129.html"}],"law_id":66959,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66959,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-129","catch_line":"Order permitting prisoners to work on state, county, city, town, certain private property or nonprofit organization property; bond of person in charge of prisoners","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 53-165; 1976, c. 618; 1978, c. 609; 1982, c. 636; 1984, c. 43; 1991, c. 580; 1994, c. 269; 1997, cc. 134, 546; 1998, c. 311; 1999, cc. 277, 951, 1007; 2001, cc. 185, 196; 2003, cc. 818, 820; 2005, c. 409; 2008, c. 623; 2010, c. 132.","full_text":"The circuit court of any county or city may, by order entered of record, allow persons confined in the jail of such county or city who are awaiting disposition of, or serving sentences imposed for, misdemeanors or felonies to work on (i) state, county, city or town property, (ii) any property owned by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3) and that is organized and operated exclusively for charitable or social welfare purposes on a voluntary basis with the consent of the county, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority or upon the request of the nonprofit organization involved, (iii) private property that is part of a community improvement project sponsored by a locality or that has structures that are found to be public nuisances pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-900 and 15.2-906 provided that the court has reviewed and approved the project for the purposes herein and permits the prisoners to work on such project, (iv) any private property utilized by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3), or (v) private property in any locality that meets the criteria under an ordinance adopted by such locality under \u00a7 15.2-908. The district court of any county or city may allow persons confined in the jail of such county or city who are awaiting disposition of, or serving sentences imposed for, misdemeanors to work on (a) state, county, city or town property, (b) any property owned by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3) and that is organized and operated exclusively for charitable or social welfare purposes on a voluntary basis with consent of the county, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority or upon the request of the nonprofit organization involved, (c) private property that is part of a community improvement project sponsored by a locality or that has structures that are found to be public nuisances pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-900 and 15.2-906 provided that the court has reviewed and approved the project for the purposes herein and permits the prisoners to work on such project, (d) any private property utilized by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3), or (e) private property in any locality that meets the criteria under an ordinance adopted by such locality under \u00a7 15.2-908. Prisoners performing work as provided in this paragraph may receive credit on their respective sentences for the work done, whether such sentences are imposed prior or subsequent to the work done, as the court orders.\n\t\tThe court may, by order entered of record, require a person convicted of a felony to work on state, county, city or town property, with the consent of the county, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority involved, for such credit on his sentence as the court orders.\n\t\tIn the event that a person other than the sheriff or jail superintendent is designated by the court to have charge of such prisoners while so working, the court shall require a bond of the person, in an amount to be fixed by the court, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his duties. Neither the sheriff nor the jail superintendent shall be held responsible for any acts of omission or commission on the part of such person.\n\t\tAny person committed to jail upon a felony offense committed on or after January 1, 1995, who receives credit on his sentence as provided in this section shall not be entitled to good conduct credit, sentence credit, earned sentence credit, other credit, or a combination of any credits in excess of that permissible under Article 4 (\u00a7 53.1-202.2 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of this title. So much of an order of any court contrary to the provisions of Article 4 shall be deemed null and void.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":242752,"text":"The circuit court of any county or city may, by order entered of record, allow persons confined in the jail of such county or city who are awaiting disposition of, or serving sentences imposed for, misdemeanors or felonies to work on (i) state, county, city or town property, (ii) any property owned by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3) and that is organized and operated exclusively for charitable or social welfare purposes on a voluntary basis with the consent of the county, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority or upon the request of the nonprofit organization involved, (iii) private property that is part of a community improvement project sponsored by a locality or that has structures that are found to be public nuisances pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-900 and 15.2-906 provided that the court has reviewed and approved the project for the purposes herein and permits the prisoners to work on such project, (iv) any private property utilized by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3), or (v) private property in any locality that meets the criteria under an ordinance adopted by such locality under \u00a7 15.2-908. The district court of any county or city may allow persons confined in the jail of such county or city who are awaiting disposition of, or serving sentences imposed for, misdemeanors to work on (a) state, county, city or town property, (b) any property owned by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3) and that is organized and operated exclusively for charitable or social welfare purposes on a voluntary basis with consent of the county, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority or upon the request of the nonprofit organization involved, (c) private property that is part of a community improvement project sponsored by a locality or that has structures that are found to be public nuisances pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-900 and 15.2-906 provided that the court has reviewed and approved the project for the purposes herein and permits the prisoners to work on such project, (d) any private property utilized by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3), or (e) private property in any locality that meets the criteria under an ordinance adopted by such locality under \u00a7 15.2-908. Prisoners performing work as provided in this paragraph may receive credit on their respective sentences for the work done, whether such sentences are imposed prior or subsequent to the work done, as the court orders.\n\t\tThe court may, by order entered of record, require a person convicted of a felony to work on state, county, city or town property, with the consent of the county, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority involved, for such credit on his sentence as the court orders.\n\t\tIn the event that a person other than the sheriff or jail superintendent is designated by the court to have charge of such prisoners while so working, the court shall require a bond of the person, in an amount to be fixed by the court, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his duties. Neither the sheriff nor the jail superintendent shall be held responsible for any acts of omission or commission on the part of such person.\n\t\tAny person committed to jail upon a felony offense committed on or after January 1, 1995, who receives credit on his sentence as provided in this section shall not be entitled to good conduct credit, sentence credit, earned sentence credit, other credit, or a combination of any credits in excess of that permissible under Article 4 (\u00a7 53.1-202.2 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of this title. So much of an order of any court contrary to the provisions of Article 4 shall be deemed null and void.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14854,"edition_id":1,"name":"Prisoner Programs and Treatment","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12847,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:50:24","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:50:24","permalink":{"id":238767,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14854,"identifier":"7","token":"53.1\/3\/7","url":"\/53.1\/3\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12847,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Correctional Facilities","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12717,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":238281,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12847,"identifier":"3","token":"53.1\/3","url":"\/53.1\/3\/","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":67418,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-128","catch_line":"Workforces and authorized work places","url":"\/53.1-128\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-128","metadata":false},{"id":66959,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-129","catch_line":"Order permitting prisoners to work on state, county, city, town, certain private property or nonprofit organization property; bond of person in charge of prisoners","url":"\/53.1-129\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-129","metadata":false},{"id":75473,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-130","catch_line":"Sheriffs, jail superintendents, etc., not to be interested in property where work performed; penalty","url":"\/53.1-130\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-130","metadata":false},{"id":73492,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-131","catch_line":"Provision for release of prisoner from confinement for employment, educational or other rehabilitative programs; escape; penalty; disposition of earnings","url":"\/53.1-131\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-131","metadata":false},{"id":76097,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-131.1","catch_line":"Provision for sentencing of person to nonconsecutive days in jail; payment to defray costs; penalty","url":"\/53.1-131.1\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-131.1","metadata":false},{"id":73781,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-131.2","catch_line":"Assignment to a home\/electronic incarceration program; payment to defray costs; escape; penalty","url":"\/53.1-131.2\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-131.2","metadata":false},{"id":76868,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-131.3","catch_line":"Payment of costs associated with prisoners' keep","url":"\/53.1-131.3\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-131.3","metadata":false},{"id":61325,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-132","catch_line":"Furloughs from local work release programs; penalty for violations","url":"\/53.1-132\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-132","metadata":false},{"id":85322,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-133","catch_line":"Treatment of prisoner with contagious disease","url":"\/53.1-133\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-133","metadata":false},{"id":71557,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-133.01","catch_line":"Medical treatment for prisoners","url":"\/53.1-133.01\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-133.01","metadata":false},{"id":81065,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-133.01:1","catch_line":"Payment for bodily injury","url":"\/53.1-133.01_1\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-133.01_1","metadata":false},{"id":65258,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-133.02","catch_line":"Notice to be given upon prisoner release, escape, etc","url":"\/53.1-133.02\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-133.02","metadata":false},{"id":64708,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-133.03","catch_line":"Exchange of medical and mental health information and records","url":"\/53.1-133.03\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-133.03","metadata":false},{"id":59293,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-133.04","catch_line":"Medical and mental health treatment of prisoners incapable of giving consent","url":"\/53.1-133.04\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-133.04","metadata":false},{"id":56768,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-133.05","catch_line":"Place of hearing on medical or mental health treatment of prisoners incapable of giving consent; fees and expenses","url":"\/53.1-133.05\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-133.05","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":67418,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-128","catch_line":"Workforces and authorized work places","url":"\/53.1-128\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-128","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":75473,"structure_id":14854,"section_number":"53.1-130","catch_line":"Sheriffs, jail superintendents, etc., not to be interested in property where work performed; penalty","url":"\/53.1-130\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-130","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/53.1-129\/","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 1976, chapter 618; in 1978, chapter 609; in 1982, chapter 636; in 1984, chapter 43; in 1991, chapter 580; in 1994, chapter 269<\/a>; in 1997, chapters 134<\/a> and 546<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 311<\/a>; in 1999, chapters 277<\/a>, 951<\/a>, and 1007<\/a>; in 2001, chapters 185<\/a> and 196<\/a>; in 2003, chapters 818<\/a> and 820<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 409<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 623<\/a>; in 2010, chapter 132<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":81152,"section_number":"19.2-354","catch_line":"Authority of court to order payment of fine, costs, forfeitures, penalties or restitution in installments or upon other terms and conditions; community work in lieu of payment","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-354\/"},{"id":63882,"section_number":"53.1-109","catch_line":"Authority of jail superintendent and jail officers; fees charged to prisoner","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-109\/"},{"id":62482,"section_number":"53.1-187","catch_line":"Credit for time spent in confinement while awaiting trial","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-187\/"},{"id":69000,"section_number":"53.1-202","catch_line":"Good conduct allowance for previous confinement; entry level","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-202\/"},{"id":62293,"section_number":"53.1-95.8","catch_line":"Authority of superintendent and jail officers; oath and bond; fees charged to prisoner","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-95.8\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":81812,"section_number":"15.2-900","catch_line":"Abatement or removal of nuisances by localities; recovery of costs","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-900\/"},{"id":73739,"section_number":"15.2-906","catch_line":"Authority to require removal, repair, etc., of buildings and other structures","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-906\/"},{"id":78494,"section_number":"15.2-908","catch_line":"Authority of localities to remove or repair the defacement of buildings, walls, fences and other structures","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-908\/"},{"id":56687,"section_number":"53.1-202.2","catch_line":"Eligibility for earned sentence credits","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-202.2\/"}],"permalink":{"id":238773,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66959,"identifier":"53.1-129","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-129","url":"\/53.1-129\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/53.1-129\/","token":"53.1\/3\/7\/53.1-129","dublin_core":{"Title":"Order permitting prisoners to work on state, county, city, town, certain private property or nonprofit organization property; bond of person in charge of prisoners","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 53.1-129","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The circuit<\/span> court of any county or city may, by order<\/span> entered of record, allow persons confined in the jail of such county or city who are awaiting disposition<\/span> of, or serving sentences imposed for, misdemeanors<\/span> or felonies to work on (i) state, county, city or town property, (ii) any property owned by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3) and that is organized and operated exclusively for charitable or social welfare purposes on a voluntary basis with the consent of the county, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority or upon the request of the nonprofit organization involved, (iii) private property that is part of a community improvement project sponsored by a locality or that has structures that are found to be public nuisances pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-900<\/a> and 15.2-906<\/a> provided that the court has reviewed and approved the project for the purposes herein and permits the prisoners to work on such project, (iv) any private property utilized by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3), or (v) private property in any locality that meets the criteria under an ordinance<\/span> adopted by such locality under \u00a7 15.2-908<\/a>. The district court of any county or city may allow persons confined in the jail of such county or city who are awaiting disposition<\/span> of, or serving sentences imposed for, misdemeanors<\/span> to work on (a) state, county, city or town property, (b) any property owned by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3) and that is organized and operated exclusively for charitable or social welfare purposes on a voluntary basis with consent of the county, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority or upon the request of the nonprofit organization involved, (c) private property that is part of a community improvement project sponsored by a locality or that has structures that are found to be public nuisances pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-900<\/a> and 15.2-906<\/a> provided that the court has reviewed and approved the project for the purposes herein and permits the prisoners to work on such project, (d) any private property utilized by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3), or (e) private property in any locality that meets the criteria under an ordinance<\/span> adopted by such locality under \u00a7 15.2-908<\/a>. Prisoners performing work as provided in this paragraph may receive credit on their respective sentences for the work done, whether such sentences are imposed prior or subsequent to the work done, as the court orders<\/span>.\n\t\tThe court may, by order<\/span> entered of record, require a person convicted of a felony<\/span> to work on state, county, city or town property, with the consent of the county, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority involved, for such credit on his sentence as the court orders<\/span>.\n\t\tIn the event that a person other than the sheriff or jail superintendent is designated by the court to have charge of such prisoners while so working, the court shall require a bond<\/span> of the person, in an amount to be fixed by the court, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his duties. Neither the sheriff nor the jail superintendent shall be held responsible for any acts of omission or commission on the part of such person.\n\t\tAny person committed to jail upon a felony<\/span> offense<\/span> committed on or after January 1, 1995, who receives credit on his sentence as provided in this section shall not be entitled to good conduct credit, sentence credit, earned sentence credit, other credit, or a combination of any credits in excess of that permissible under Article 4 (\u00a7 53.1-202.2<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 6 of this title. So much of an order<\/span> of any court contrary to the provisions of Article 4 shall be deemed null and void.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nORDER PERMITTING PRISONERS TO WORK ON STATE, COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, CERTAIN PRIVATE\nPROPERTY OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION PROPERTY; BOND OF PERSON IN CHARGE OF\nPRISONERS (\u00a7 53.1-129)\n\nThe circuit court of any county or city may, by order entered of record, allow\npersons confined in the jail of such county or city who are awaiting disposition\nof, or serving sentences imposed for, misdemeanors or felonies to work on (i)\nstate, county, city or town property, (ii) any property owned by a nonprofit\norganization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3) and that\nis organized and operated exclusively for charitable or social welfare purposes\non a voluntary basis with the consent of the county, city, town or state agency\nor the local public service authority or upon the request of the nonprofit\norganization involved, (iii) private property that is part of a community\nimprovement project sponsored by a locality or that has structures that are\nfound to be public nuisances pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-900 and 15.2-906 provided\nthat the court has reviewed and approved the project for the purposes herein and\npermits the prisoners to work on such project, (iv) any private property\nutilized by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under 26\nU.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3), or (v) private property in any locality that meets the\ncriteria under an ordinance adopted by such locality under \u00a7 15.2-908. The\ndistrict court of any county or city may allow persons confined in the jail of\nsuch county or city who are awaiting disposition of, or serving sentences\nimposed for, misdemeanors to work on (a) state, county, city or town property,\n(b) any property owned by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation\nunder 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3) and that is organized and operated exclusively for\ncharitable or social welfare purposes on a voluntary basis with consent of the\ncounty, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority or upon\nthe request of the nonprofit organization involved, (c) private property that is\npart of a community improvement project sponsored by a locality or that has\nstructures that are found to be public nuisances pursuant to \u00a7\u00a7 15.2-900 and\n15.2-906 provided that the court has reviewed and approved the project for the\npurposes herein and permits the prisoners to work on such project, (d) any\nprivate property utilized by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from\ntaxation under 26 U.S.C. \u00a7 501(c)(3), or (e) private property in any locality\nthat meets the criteria under an ordinance adopted by such locality under \u00a7\n15.2-908. Prisoners performing work as provided in this paragraph may receive\ncredit on their respective sentences for the work done, whether such sentences\nare imposed prior or subsequent to the work done, as the court orders.\n\t\tThe court may, by order entered of record, require a person convicted of a\nfelony to work on state, county, city or town property, with the consent of the\ncounty, city, town or state agency or the local public service authority\ninvolved, for such credit on his sentence as the court orders.\n\t\tIn the event that a person other than the sheriff or jail superintendent is\ndesignated by the court to have charge of such prisoners while so working, the\ncourt shall require a bond of the person, in an amount to be fixed by the court,\nconditioned upon the faithful discharge of his duties. Neither the sheriff nor\nthe jail superintendent shall be held responsible for any acts of omission or\ncommission on the part of such person.\n\t\tAny person committed to jail upon a felony offense committed on or after\nJanuary 1, 1995, who receives credit on his sentence as provided in this section\nshall not be entitled to good conduct credit, sentence credit, earned sentence\ncredit, other credit, or a combination of any credits in excess of that\npermissible under Article 4 (\u00a7 53.1-202.2 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of this title.\nSo much of an order of any court contrary to the provisions of Article 4 shall\nbe deemed null and void.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 53-165; 1976, c. 618; 1978, c. 609; 1982, c. 636; 1984,\nc. 43; 1991, c. 580; 1994, c. 269; 1997, cc. 134, 546; 1998, c. 311; 1999, cc.\n277, 951, 1007; 2001, cc. 185, 196; 2003, cc. 818, 820; 2005, c. 409; 2008, c.\n623; 2010, c. 132.","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}}