{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/53.1-17.6.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/53.1-17.6.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/53.1-17.6.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/53.1-17.6.html"}],"law_id":83318,"edition_id":1,"section_id":83318,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.6","catch_line":"Inspection authority; inspection and assessment; report; safety and compliance classification","history":"2024, cc. 392, 393.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Office shall conduct periodic inspections of each facility maintained by the Department. The initial inspection of each individual facility shall be conducted by July 1, 2026, and the findings shall be publicly reported or included in the annual report established in § 53.1-17.8.B\n\nAn inspection of any facility may include an assessment of the following:1\n\nAny policies and procedures related to the care of inmates;2\n\nConditions of confinement;3\n\nAvailability of educational and rehabilitative programming, drug and mental health treatment, and inmate jobs and vocational training;4\n\nAny policies and procedures related to visitation;5\n\nAny medical facilities and medical policies and procedures;6\n\nAny lockdowns at the facility in the time since the last inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any lockdowns at the facility within the previous three years;7\n\nStaffing at the facility, including the number of staff, job assignments, the ratio of staff to inmates, and the number of staff vacancies;8\n\nPhysical or sexual assaults at the facility in the time since the last inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any physical or sexual assaults within the previous three years;9\n\nInmate or staff deaths at the facility in the time since the last inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any inmate or staff deaths within the previous three years;10\n\nAny policies and procedures related to Department staff recruitment, training, supervision, and discipline;11\n\nAvailability of complaint and grievance forms at the facility and the accessibility of the administrative remedies process to inmates and their representatives; and12\n\nAny other aspect of the operation of the facility that the Office determines is necessary to assess or that relates to covered issues.C\n\nUpon completion of an inspection, the Office shall produce a report to be made available to the public online and to be delivered to the Governor, the Attorney General, the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services, the House Committee on Public Safety, and the Director. The report shall include a summary of all the factors listed in subsection B, any recommendations and a safety and compliance classification with a recommended timeline for the next inspection, and the Director’s response to the inspection.D\n\nThe levels of classification shall be as follows:1\n\nA Tier I classification means that the facility has clear violations of rights, risks to the safety of inmates, or a severe lack of quality programming necessary for the successful rehabilitation of individuals. Such classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 12 months.2\n\nA Tier II classification means that the facility has violations of rights, substandard conditions of confinement, or substandard programming options. Such classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 18 to 36 months.3\n\nA Tier III classification means that the facility has adequate conditions of confinement and programming options. Such classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 36 months.E\n\nThe Department shall respond in writing to each inspection report issued by the Office within 30 days of the issuance of the report and in its response shall include a corrective action plan. The Office shall monitor the Department’s compliance with the corrective action plan and may conduct further inspections or investigations as necessary to ensure such compliance.F\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of the Office or members of the Committee to enter and inspect a Department facility at any time, with or without advance notice, as described in §§ 53.1-17.3 and 53.1-17.4.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":298515,"text":"The Office shall conduct periodic inspections of each facility maintained by the Department. The initial inspection of each individual facility shall be conducted by July 1, 2026, and the findings shall be publicly reported or included in the annual report established in § 53.1-17.8.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":298516,"text":"An inspection of any facility may include an assessment of the following:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":298517,"text":"Any policies and procedures related to the care of inmates;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":298518,"text":"Conditions of confinement;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":298519,"text":"Availability of educational and rehabilitative programming, drug and mental health treatment, and inmate jobs and vocational training;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":298520,"text":"Any policies and procedures related to visitation;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":298521,"text":"Any medical facilities and medical policies and procedures;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"7":{"id":298522,"text":"Any lockdowns at the facility in the time since the last inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any lockdowns at the facility within the previous three years;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"B7"},"8":{"id":298523,"text":"Staffing at the facility, including the number of staff, job assignments, the ratio of staff to inmates, and the number of staff vacancies;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"B7","prefix_anchor":"B7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B6","next_prefix":"B8"},"9":{"id":298524,"text":"Physical or sexual assaults at the facility in the time since the last inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any physical or sexual assaults within the previous three years;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"B8","prefix_anchor":"B8","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B7","next_prefix":"B9"},"10":{"id":298525,"text":"Inmate or staff deaths at the facility in the time since the last inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any inmate or staff deaths within the previous three years;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"B9","prefix_anchor":"B9","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B8","next_prefix":"B10"},"11":{"id":298526,"text":"Any policies and procedures related to Department staff recruitment, training, supervision, and discipline;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"B10","prefix_anchor":"B10","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B9","next_prefix":"B11"},"12":{"id":298527,"text":"Availability of complaint and grievance forms at the facility and the accessibility of the administrative remedies process to inmates and their representatives; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","11"],"prefix":"11","entire_prefix":"B11","prefix_anchor":"B11","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B10","next_prefix":"B12"},"13":{"id":298528,"text":"Any other aspect of the operation of the facility that the Office determines is necessary to assess or that relates to covered issues.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","12"],"prefix":"12","entire_prefix":"B12","prefix_anchor":"B12","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B11","next_prefix":"C"},"14":{"id":298529,"text":"Upon completion of an inspection, the Office shall produce a report to be made available to the public online and to be delivered to the Governor, the Attorney General, the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services, the House Committee on Public Safety, and the Director. The report shall include a summary of all the factors listed in subsection B, any recommendations and a safety and compliance classification with a recommended timeline for the next inspection, and the Director’s response to the inspection.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B12","next_prefix":"D"},"15":{"id":298530,"text":"The levels of classification shall be as follows:","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"D1"},"16":{"id":298531,"text":"A Tier I classification means that the facility has clear violations of rights, risks to the safety of inmates, or a severe lack of quality programming necessary for the successful rehabilitation of individuals. Such classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 12 months.","type":"section","prefixes":["D","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"D1","prefix_anchor":"D1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"D2"},"17":{"id":298532,"text":"A Tier II classification means that the facility has violations of rights, substandard conditions of confinement, or substandard programming options. Such classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 18 to 36 months.","type":"section","prefixes":["D","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"D2","prefix_anchor":"D2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D1","next_prefix":"D3"},"18":{"id":298533,"text":"A Tier III classification means that the facility has adequate conditions of confinement and programming options. Such classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 36 months.","type":"section","prefixes":["D","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"D3","prefix_anchor":"D3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D2","next_prefix":"E"},"19":{"id":298534,"text":"The Department shall respond in writing to each inspection report issued by the Office within 30 days of the issuance of the report and in its response shall include a corrective action plan. The Office shall monitor the Department’s compliance with the corrective action plan and may conduct further inspections or investigations as necessary to ensure such compliance.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D3","next_prefix":"F"},"20":{"id":298535,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of the Office or members of the Committee to enter and inspect a Department facility at any time, with or without advance notice, as described in §§ 53.1-17.3 and 53.1-17.4.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15245,"edition_id":1,"name":"Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14679,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:16","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:16","permalink":{"id":237697,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15245,"identifier":"4","token":"53.1\/1\/4","url":"\/53.1\/1\/4\/","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":63063,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.10","catch_line":"Exhaustion of remedies","url":"\/53.1-17.10\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.10","metadata":false},{"id":81880,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.2","catch_line":"Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman; powers and duties","url":"\/53.1-17.2\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.2","metadata":false},{"id":82653,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.3","catch_line":"Corrections Oversight Committee; membership; authority","url":"\/53.1-17.3\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.3","metadata":false},{"id":79629,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.4","catch_line":"Access to facilities and records","url":"\/53.1-17.4\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.4","metadata":false},{"id":85707,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.5","catch_line":"Communications; confidentiality","url":"\/53.1-17.5\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.5","metadata":false},{"id":83318,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.6","catch_line":"Inspection authority; inspection and assessment; report; safety and compliance classification","url":"\/53.1-17.6\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.6","metadata":false},{"id":58021,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.7","catch_line":"Authority to investigate complaints","url":"\/53.1-17.7\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.7","metadata":false},{"id":79661,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.8","catch_line":"Annual report","url":"\/53.1-17.8\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.8","metadata":false},{"id":70190,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.9","catch_line":"Inmate and family support services","url":"\/53.1-17.9\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":85707,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.5","catch_line":"Communications; confidentiality","url":"\/53.1-17.5\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.5","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":58021,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.7","catch_line":"Authority to investigate complaints","url":"\/53.1-17.7\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.7","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/53.1-17.6\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2024. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 392<\/a> and 393<\/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.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82653,"section_number":"53.1-17.3","catch_line":"Corrections Oversight Committee; membership; authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-17.3\/"},{"id":79629,"section_number":"53.1-17.4","catch_line":"Access to facilities and records","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-17.4\/"},{"id":85707,"section_number":"53.1-17.5","catch_line":"Communications; confidentiality","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-17.5\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":82653,"section_number":"53.1-17.3","catch_line":"Corrections Oversight Committee; membership; authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-17.3\/"},{"id":79629,"section_number":"53.1-17.4","catch_line":"Access to facilities and records","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-17.4\/"}],"permalink":{"id":237719,"object_type":"law","relational_id":83318,"identifier":"53.1-17.6","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.6","url":"\/53.1-17.6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/53.1-17.6\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.6","dublin_core":{"Title":"Inspection authority; inspection and assessment; report; safety and compliance classification","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 53.1-17.6","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Office shall conduct periodic inspections of each facility maintained by the Department<\/span>. The initial inspection of each individual facility shall be conducted by July 1, 2026, and the findings<\/span> shall be publicly reported or included in the annual report established in § 53.1-17.8<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> An inspection of any facility may include an assessment of the following: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Any policies and procedures related to the care of inmates; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Conditions of confinement; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Availability of educational and rehabilitative programming, drug and mental health treatment<\/span>, and inmate jobs and vocational training; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Any policies and procedures related to visitation; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Any medical facilities and medical policies and procedures; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Any lockdowns at the facility in the time since the last inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any lockdowns at the facility within the previous three years; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Staffing at the facility, including the number of staff, job assignments, the ratio of staff to inmates, and the number of staff vacancies; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Physical or sexual assaults<\/span> at the facility in the time since the last inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any physical or sexual assaults<\/span> within the previous three years; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Inmate or staff deaths at the facility in the time since the last inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any inmate or staff deaths within the previous three years; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> Any policies and procedures related to Department<\/span> staff recruitment, training, supervision, and discipline; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

11.<\/span> Availability of complaint and grievance forms at the facility and the accessibility of the administrative remedies process to inmates and their representatives; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

12.<\/span> Any other aspect of the operation of the facility that the Office determines is necessary to assess or that relates to covered issues<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Upon completion of an inspection, the Office shall produce a report to be made available to the public online and to be delivered to the Governor, the Attorney General<\/span>, the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services, the House Committee on Public Safety, and the Director<\/span>. The report shall include a summary of all the factors listed in subsection B, any recommendations and a safety and compliance classification with a recommended timeline for the next inspection, and the Director<\/span>’s response to the inspection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The levels of classification shall be as follows: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> A Tier I classification means that the facility has clear violations of rights, risks to the safety of inmates, or a severe lack of quality programming necessary for the successful rehabilitation of individuals. Such classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 12 months. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> A Tier II classification means that the facility has violations of rights, substandard conditions of confinement, or substandard programming options. Such classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 18 to 36 months. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> A Tier III classification means that the facility has adequate conditions of confinement and programming options. Such classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 36 months. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall respond in writing to each inspection report issued by the Office within 30 days of the issuance of the report and in its response shall include a corrective action plan. The Office shall monitor the Department<\/span>’s compliance with the corrective action plan and may conduct further inspections or investigations as necessary to ensure such compliance. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of the Office or members of the Committee to enter and inspect a Department<\/span> facility at any time, with or without advance notice, as described in §§ 53.1-17.3<\/a> and 53.1-17.4<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINSPECTION AUTHORITY; INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT; REPORT; SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE\nCLASSIFICATION (\u00a7 53.1-17.6)\n\nA. The Office shall conduct periodic inspections of each facility maintained by\nthe Department. The initial inspection of each individual facility shall be\nconducted by July 1, 2026, and the findings shall be publicly reported or\nincluded in the annual report established in § 53.1-17.8.\n\nB. An inspection of any facility may include an assessment of the following:\n\n 1. Any policies and procedures related to the care of inmates;\n\n 2. Conditions of confinement;\n\n 3. Availability of educational and rehabilitative programming, drug and mental\n health treatment, and inmate jobs and vocational training;\n\n 4. Any policies and procedures related to visitation;\n\n 5. Any medical facilities and medical policies and procedures;\n\n 6. Any lockdowns at the facility in the time since the last inspection or, in\n the instance of the initial inspection, any lockdowns at the facility within\n the previous three years;\n\n 7. Staffing at the facility, including the number of staff, job assignments,\n the ratio of staff to inmates, and the number of staff vacancies;\n\n 8. Physical or sexual assaults at the facility in the time since the last\n inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any physical or\n sexual assaults within the previous three years;\n\n 9. Inmate or staff deaths at the facility in the time since the last\n inspection or, in the instance of the initial inspection, any inmate or staff\n deaths within the previous three years;\n\n 10. Any policies and procedures related to Department staff recruitment,\n training, supervision, and discipline;\n\n 11. Availability of complaint and grievance forms at the facility and the\n accessibility of the administrative remedies process to inmates and their\n representatives; and\n\n 12. Any other aspect of the operation of the facility that the Office\n determines is necessary to assess or that relates to covered issues.\n\nC. Upon completion of an inspection, the Office shall produce a report to be\nmade available to the public online and to be delivered to the Governor, the\nAttorney General, the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services,\nthe House Committee on Public Safety, and the Director. The report shall include\na summary of all the factors listed in subsection B, any recommendations and a\nsafety and compliance classification with a recommended timeline for the next\ninspection, and the Director’s response to the inspection.\n\nD. The levels of classification shall be as follows:\n\n 1. A Tier I classification means that the facility has clear violations of\n rights, risks to the safety of inmates, or a severe lack of quality\n programming necessary for the successful rehabilitation of individuals. Such\n classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 12 months.\n\n 2. A Tier II classification means that the facility has violations of rights,\n substandard conditions of confinement, or substandard programming options.\n Such classification shall require a subsequent inspection within 18 to 36\n months.\n\n 3. A Tier III classification means that the facility has adequate conditions\n of confinement and programming options. Such classification shall require a\n subsequent inspection within 36 months.\n\nE. The Department shall respond in writing to each inspection report issued by\nthe Office within 30 days of the issuance of the report and in its response\nshall include a corrective action plan. The Office shall monitor the\nDepartment’s compliance with the corrective action plan and may conduct\nfurther inspections or investigations as necessary to ensure such compliance.\n\nF. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of the Office\nor members of the Committee to enter and inspect a Department facility at any\ntime, with or without advance notice, as described in §§ 53.1-17.3 and\n53.1-17.4.\n\nHISTORY: 2024, cc. 392, 393.","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}}