{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/53.1-17.9.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/53.1-17.9.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/53.1-17.9.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/53.1-17.9.html"}],"law_id":70190,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70190,"structure_id":15245,"section_number":"53.1-17.9","catch_line":"Inmate and family support services","history":"2024, cc. 392, 393.","full_text":"A\n\nFor the purposes of this section, “family member” means a grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse or domestic partner, child, parent’s sibling, cousin, sibling’s child, grandchild, or any other person related by blood, adoption, marriage, or a fostering relationship.B\n\nFor the purposes of this section, covered issues include (i) sanitation in correctional facilities; (ii) access to proper nutrition and clean and adequate water supplies; (iii) habitable temperatures in correctional facilities; (iv) physical or sexual abuse from fellow inmates; (v) physical or sexual abuse from staff, contractors, or volunteers; (vi) credible threats against self from other inmates, staff, or contractors; (vii) neglect of staff or contractors that results in physical or sexual trauma; (viii) denial or violation of rights; (ix) access to visitation and communication with family and legal representation; (x) access to medical or mental health care or substance abuse treatment; (xi) access to educational and rehabilitative programming, drug and mental health treatment, and inmate jobs and vocational training; (xii) access to the Department’s administrative remedies process for inmates and their representatives, including the availability of complaint and grievance forms and the timely, unbiased resolution of grievances; and (xiii) adequate and qualified staffing in each Department facility.C\n\nThe Office shall provide a statewide toll-free telephone number, a mailing address, and paper and electronic forms for inmates, family members, friends, and advocates to submit complaints and inquiries regarding covered issues on behalf of an inmate incarcerated in a Department facility. Upon receipt of a complaint or inquiry, the Office shall (i) confirm receipt of such complaint or injury and (ii) make a determination and notify the complainant as to whether an investigation is warranted. Paper forms shall be made available to all inmates and shall be provided to inmates upon request to a Department employee or contractor, including when the inmate is in administrative segregation or solitary confinement. Department employees and contractors must treat such paper forms as confidential and privileged in the same manner as legal correspondence or communication. All incoming and outgoing inmate mail is subject to the Department’s security screening processes and procedures. The Office and Director shall guarantee that calls made by inmates, employees, and contractors to file complaints and inquiries with the Office regarding covered issues are confidential and are not monitored or recorded.D\n\nThe provisions of subsection I of § 53.1-17.7 shall apply to complaints or inquiries made pursuant to this section.E\n\nThe Ombudsman shall develop a short-term and long-term strategic plan that (i) is informed by visits to Department facilities, at least two public meetings, consultation with stakeholders, and review of best practices in other states; (ii) includes procedures for coordination with existing employees at the Office of the State Inspector General and the Department, in collaboration with those employees and with the goal of complementing existing efforts; and (iii) includes potential options and recommendations for legislation and budget actions that would support its short-term and long-term goals. The Office shall provide a report on its initial activities and strategic plan to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before November 15, 2025.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":253469,"text":"For the purposes of this section, “family member” means a grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse or domestic partner, child, parent’s sibling, cousin, sibling’s child, grandchild, or any other person related by blood, adoption, marriage, or a fostering relationship.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":253470,"text":"For the purposes of this section, covered issues include (i) sanitation in correctional facilities; (ii) access to proper nutrition and clean and adequate water supplies; (iii) habitable temperatures in correctional facilities; (iv) physical or sexual abuse from fellow inmates; (v) physical or sexual abuse from staff, contractors, or volunteers; (vi) credible threats against self from other inmates, staff, or contractors; (vii) neglect of staff or contractors that results in physical or sexual trauma; (viii) denial or violation of rights; (ix) access to visitation and communication with family and legal representation; (x) access to medical or mental health care or substance abuse treatment; (xi) access to educational and rehabilitative programming, drug and mental health treatment, and inmate jobs and vocational training; (xii) access to the Department’s administrative remedies process for inmates and their representatives, including the availability of complaint and grievance forms and the timely, unbiased resolution of grievances; and (xiii) adequate and qualified staffing in each Department facility.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":253471,"text":"The Office shall provide a statewide toll-free telephone number, a mailing address, and paper and electronic forms for inmates, family members, friends, and advocates to submit complaints and inquiries regarding covered issues on behalf of an inmate incarcerated in a Department facility. Upon receipt of a complaint or inquiry, the Office shall (i) confirm receipt of such complaint or injury and (ii) make a determination and notify the complainant as to whether an investigation is warranted. Paper forms shall be made available to all inmates and shall be provided to inmates upon request to a Department employee or contractor, including when the inmate is in administrative segregation or solitary confinement. Department employees and contractors must treat such paper forms as confidential and privileged in the same manner as legal correspondence or communication. All incoming and outgoing inmate mail is subject to the Department’s security screening processes and procedures. The Office and Director shall guarantee that calls made by inmates, employees, and contractors to file complaints and inquiries with the Office regarding covered issues are confidential and are not monitored or recorded.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":253472,"text":"The provisions of subsection I of § 53.1-17.7 shall apply to complaints or inquiries made pursuant to this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":253473,"text":"The Ombudsman shall develop a short-term and long-term strategic plan that (i) is informed by visits to Department facilities, at least two public meetings, consultation with stakeholders, and review of best practices in other states; (ii) includes procedures for coordination with existing employees at the Office of the State Inspector General and the Department, in collaboration with those employees and with the goal of complementing existing efforts; and (iii) includes potential options and recommendations for legislation and budget actions that would support its short-term and long-term goals. The Office shall provide a report on its initial activities and strategic plan to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before November 15, 2025.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"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":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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/53.1-17.9\/","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":81880,"section_number":"53.1-17.2","catch_line":"Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman; powers and duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-17.2\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":58021,"section_number":"53.1-17.7","catch_line":"Authority to investigate complaints","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-17.7\/"}],"permalink":{"id":237731,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70190,"identifier":"53.1-17.9","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.9","url":"\/53.1-17.9\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/53.1-17.9\/","token":"53.1\/1\/4\/53.1-17.9","dublin_core":{"Title":"Inmate and family support services","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 53.1-17.9","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> For the purposes of this section, “family member<\/span>” means a grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse or domestic partner, child, parent’s sibling, cousin, sibling’s child, grandchild, or any other person related by blood, adoption, marriage, or a fostering relationship. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> For the purposes of this section, covered issues<\/span> include (i) sanitation in correctional facilities; (ii) access to proper nutrition and clean and adequate water supplies; (iii) habitable temperatures in correctional facilities; (iv) physical or sexual abuse from fellow inmates; (v) physical or sexual abuse from staff, contractors, or volunteers; (vi) credible threats against self from other inmates, staff, or contractors; (vii) neglect of staff or contractors that results in physical or sexual trauma; (viii) denial or violation of rights; (ix) access to visitation and communication with family and legal representation; (x) access to medical or mental health care or substance abuse treatment<\/span>; (xi) access to educational and rehabilitative programming, drug and mental health treatment<\/span>, and inmate jobs and vocational training; (xii) access to the Department<\/span>’s administrative remedies process for inmates and their representatives, including the availability of complaint and grievance forms and the timely, unbiased resolution of grievances; and (xiii) adequate and qualified staffing in each Department<\/span> facility. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Office shall provide a statewide toll-free telephone number, a mailing address, and paper and electronic forms for inmates, family members<\/span>, friends, and advocates to submit complaints and inquiries regarding covered issues<\/span> on behalf of an inmate incarcerated in a Department<\/span> facility. Upon receipt of a complaint or inquiry, the Office shall (i) confirm receipt of such complaint or injury and (ii) make a determination and notify the complainant as to whether an investigation is warranted. Paper forms shall be made available to all inmates and shall be provided to inmates upon request to a Department<\/span> employee or contractor, including when the inmate is in administrative segregation or solitary confinement. Department<\/span> employees and contractors must treat such paper forms as confidential and privileged in the same manner as legal correspondence or communication. All incoming and outgoing inmate mail is subject to the Department<\/span>’s security screening processes and procedures. The Office and Director<\/span> shall guarantee that calls made by inmates, employees, and contractors to file complaints and inquiries with the Office regarding covered issues<\/span> are confidential and are not monitored or recorded. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The provisions of subsection I of § 53.1-17.7<\/a> shall apply to complaints or inquiries made pursuant to this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The Ombudsman shall develop a short-term and long-term strategic plan that (i) is informed by visits to Department<\/span> facilities, at least two public meetings, consultation with stakeholders, and review of best practices in other states; (ii) includes procedures for coordination with existing employees at the Office of the State Inspector General and the Department<\/span>, in collaboration with those employees and with the goal of complementing existing efforts; and (iii) includes potential options and recommendations for legislation and budget actions that would support its short-term and long-term goals. The Office shall provide a report on its initial activities and strategic plan to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before November 15, 2025. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINMATE AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES (\u00a7 53.1-17.9)\n\nA. For the purposes of this section, “family member” means a\ngrandparent, parent, sibling, spouse or domestic partner, child, parent’s\nsibling, cousin, sibling’s child, grandchild, or any other person related\nby blood, adoption, marriage, or a fostering relationship.\n\nB. For the purposes of this section, covered issues include (i) sanitation in\ncorrectional facilities; (ii) access to proper nutrition and clean and adequate\nwater supplies; (iii) habitable temperatures in correctional facilities; (iv)\nphysical or sexual abuse from fellow inmates; (v) physical or sexual abuse from\nstaff, contractors, or volunteers; (vi) credible threats against self from other\ninmates, staff, or contractors; (vii) neglect of staff or contractors that\nresults in physical or sexual trauma; (viii) denial or violation of rights; (ix)\naccess to visitation and communication with family and legal representation; (x)\naccess to medical or mental health care or substance abuse treatment; (xi)\naccess to educational and rehabilitative programming, drug and mental health\ntreatment, and inmate jobs and vocational training; (xii) access to the\nDepartment’s administrative remedies process for inmates and their\nrepresentatives, including the availability of complaint and grievance forms and\nthe timely, unbiased resolution of grievances; and (xiii) adequate and qualified\nstaffing in each Department facility.\n\nC. The Office shall provide a statewide toll-free telephone number, a mailing\naddress, and paper and electronic forms for inmates, family members, friends,\nand advocates to submit complaints and inquiries regarding covered issues on\nbehalf of an inmate incarcerated in a Department facility. Upon receipt of a\ncomplaint or inquiry, the Office shall (i) confirm receipt of such complaint or\ninjury and (ii) make a determination and notify the complainant as to whether an\ninvestigation is warranted. Paper forms shall be made available to all inmates\nand shall be provided to inmates upon request to a Department employee or\ncontractor, including when the inmate is in administrative segregation or\nsolitary confinement. Department employees and contractors must treat such paper\nforms as confidential and privileged in the same manner as legal correspondence\nor communication. All incoming and outgoing inmate mail is subject to the\nDepartment’s security screening processes and procedures. The Office and\nDirector shall guarantee that calls made by inmates, employees, and contractors\nto file complaints and inquiries with the Office regarding covered issues are\nconfidential and are not monitored or recorded.\n\nD. The provisions of subsection I of § 53.1-17.7 shall apply to complaints\nor inquiries made pursuant to this section.\n\nE. The Ombudsman shall develop a short-term and long-term strategic plan that\n(i) is informed by visits to Department facilities, at least two public\nmeetings, consultation with stakeholders, and review of best practices in other\nstates; (ii) includes procedures for coordination with existing employees at the\nOffice of the State Inspector General and the Department, in collaboration with\nthose employees and with the goal of complementing existing efforts; and (iii)\nincludes potential options and recommendations for legislation and budget\nactions that would support its short-term and long-term goals. The Office shall\nprovide a report on its initial activities and strategic plan to the Governor\nand the General Assembly on or before November 15, 2025.\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}}