{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/53.1-20.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/53.1-20.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/53.1-20.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/53.1-20.html"}],"law_id":63511,"edition_id":1,"section_id":63511,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-20","catch_line":"Commitment of convicted persons to custody of Director","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 19-270, 19.1-296, 53-21.1; 1960, c. 366; 1966, c. 522; 1970, cc. 67, 648; 1972, c. 145; 1973, c. 330; 1974, cc. 44, 45, 506; 1981, c. 529; 1982, c. 636; 1990, cc. 676, 768; 1993, c. 502; 1994, cc. 128, 859, 949; 1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 1997, c. 840; 2020, c. 526.","full_text":"A\n\nEvery person convicted of a felony committed before January 1, 1995, and sentenced to the Department for a total period of more than two years shall be committed by the court to the custody of the Director of the Department. The Director shall receive all such persons into the state corrections system within sixty days of the date on which the final sentencing order is mailed by certified letter or sent by electronic transmission to the Director by the clerk.B\n\nPersons convicted of felonies committed on or after January 1, 1995, and sentenced to the Department or sentenced to confinement in jail for a year or more shall be placed in the custody of the Department and received by the Director into the state corrections system within sixty days of the date on which the final sentencing order is mailed by certified letter or sent by electronic transmission to the Director by the clerk.C\n\nIf the Governor finds that the number of prisoners in state facilities poses a threat to public safety, it shall be within the discretion of the Director to determine the priority for receiving prisoners into the state corrections system from local correctional facilities.D\n\nAll felons sentenced to a period of incarceration and not placed in an adult state correctional facility pursuant to this section shall serve their sentences in local correctional facilities which shall not include a secure facility or detention home as defined in § 16.1-228.E\n\nFelons committed to the custody of the Department for a new felony offense shall be received by the Director into the state corrections system in accordance with the provisions of this section without any delay for resolution of (i) issues of alleged parole violations set for hearing before the Parole Board or (ii) any other pending parole-related administrative matter.F\n\nAfter accounting for safety, security, and operational factors, the Director shall place prisoners who are known primary caretakers of minor children in a facility as close as possible to such children.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":231383,"text":"Every person convicted of a felony committed before January 1, 1995, and sentenced to the Department for a total period of more than two years shall be committed by the court to the custody of the Director of the Department. The Director shall receive all such persons into the state corrections system within sixty days of the date on which the final sentencing order is mailed by certified letter or sent by electronic transmission to the Director by the clerk.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":231384,"text":"Persons convicted of felonies committed on or after January 1, 1995, and sentenced to the Department or sentenced to confinement in jail for a year or more shall be placed in the custody of the Department and received by the Director into the state corrections system within sixty days of the date on which the final sentencing order is mailed by certified letter or sent by electronic transmission to the Director by the clerk.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":231385,"text":"If the Governor finds that the number of prisoners in state facilities poses a threat to public safety, it shall be within the discretion of the Director to determine the priority for receiving prisoners into the state corrections system from local correctional facilities.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":231386,"text":"All felons sentenced to a period of incarceration and not placed in an adult state correctional facility pursuant to this section shall serve their sentences in local correctional facilities which shall not include a secure facility or detention home as defined in § 16.1-228.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":231387,"text":"Felons committed to the custody of the Department for a new felony offense shall be received by the Director into the state corrections system in accordance with the provisions of this section without any delay for resolution of (i) issues of alleged parole violations set for hearing before the Parole Board or (ii) any other pending parole-related administrative matter.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":231388,"text":"After accounting for safety, security, and operational factors, the Director shall place prisoners who are known primary caretakers of minor children in a facility as close as possible to such children.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12719,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12718,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":237863,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12719,"identifier":"1","token":"53.1\/2\/1","url":"\/53.1\/2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12718,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Correctional Facilities","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12717,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":237861,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12718,"identifier":"2","token":"53.1\/2","url":"\/53.1\/2\/","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":53940,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-18","catch_line":"Department to have custody of property; right to sue to protect property","url":"\/53.1-18\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-18","metadata":false},{"id":85630,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-19","catch_line":"Establishment of correctional institutions","url":"\/53.1-19\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-19","metadata":false},{"id":63511,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-20","catch_line":"Commitment of convicted persons to custody of Director","url":"\/53.1-20\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-20","metadata":false},{"id":79007,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-20.1","catch_line":"Compensation of local jails for cost of incarceration","url":"\/53.1-20.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-20.1","metadata":false},{"id":57061,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-21","catch_line":"Transfer of prisoners into and between state and local correctional facilities","url":"\/53.1-21\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-21","metadata":false},{"id":86190,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-22","catch_line":"Misdemeanant suspected of having contagious disease","url":"\/53.1-22\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-22","metadata":false},{"id":64179,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-23","catch_line":"Fingerprints, photographs and description","url":"\/53.1-23\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-23","metadata":false},{"id":56594,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-23.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/53.1-23.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-23.1","metadata":false},{"id":80095,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-23.2","catch_line":"Department to give notice of the receipt of certain prisoners","url":"\/53.1-23.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-23.2","metadata":false},{"id":54546,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-24","catch_line":"Record of convictions and register to be kept","url":"\/53.1-24\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-24","metadata":false},{"id":66834,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-25","catch_line":"Director to prescribe rules; rules to be available to prisoners","url":"\/53.1-25\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-25","metadata":false},{"id":56296,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-25.1","catch_line":"Rules of state correctional facilities","url":"\/53.1-25.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-25.1","metadata":false},{"id":83061,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-26","catch_line":"Confiscation of prohibited articles","url":"\/53.1-26\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-26","metadata":false},{"id":54317,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-27","catch_line":"Establishment of stores in state correctional facilities","url":"\/53.1-27\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-27","metadata":false},{"id":83094,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-28","catch_line":"Authority to fix discharge date; improper release; warrant, arrest and hearing","url":"\/53.1-28\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-28","metadata":false},{"id":70840,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-29","catch_line":"Authority for correctional officers and other employees to carry weapons","url":"\/53.1-29\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-29","metadata":false},{"id":81741,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-30","catch_line":"Who may enter interior of state correctional facilities; searches of those entering","url":"\/53.1-30\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-30","metadata":false},{"id":77086,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-31","catch_line":"Sale or lease of gas, oil, or minerals","url":"\/53.1-31\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-31","metadata":false},{"id":63215,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-31.1","catch_line":"Transportation of prisoners","url":"\/53.1-31.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-31.1","metadata":false},{"id":58019,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-31.2","catch_line":"Notification of child support due by a prisoner","url":"\/53.1-31.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-31.2","metadata":false},{"id":69710,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-31.3","catch_line":"Notification of incarcerated individuals ineligible for public assistance","url":"\/53.1-31.3\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-31.3","metadata":false},{"id":57907,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-31.4","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Government-issued identification; Department of Corrections-issued identification","url":"\/53.1-31.4\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-31.4","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":85630,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-19","catch_line":"Establishment of correctional institutions","url":"\/53.1-19\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-19","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":79007,"structure_id":12719,"section_number":"53.1-20.1","catch_line":"Compensation of local jails for cost of incarceration","url":"\/53.1-20.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-20.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/53.1-20\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 13 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 1960, chapter 366; in 1966, chapter 522; in 1970, chapters 67 and 648; in 1972, chapter 145; in 1973, chapter 330; in 1974, chapters 44, 45, and 506; in 1981, chapter 529; in 1982, chapter 636; in 1990, chapters 676 and 768; in 1993, chapter 502; in 1994, chapters 128<\/a>, 859<\/a>, and 949<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 840<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 526<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":63650,"section_number":"19.2-310","catch_line":"Transfer of prisoners to custody of Director of Department of Corrections","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-310\/"},{"id":73492,"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","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-131\/"},{"id":81252,"section_number":"53.1-161","catch_line":"Arrest and return of parolee; warrant; release pending adjudication of violation","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-161\/"},{"id":57061,"section_number":"53.1-21","catch_line":"Transfer of prisoners into and between state and local correctional facilities","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-21\/"},{"id":77283,"section_number":"53.1-60","catch_line":"Extending limits of confinement of state prisoners for work and educational programs; disposition of wages; support of certain dependents; penalties for violations","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-60\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":237873,"object_type":"law","relational_id":63511,"identifier":"53.1-20","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-20","url":"\/53.1-20\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/53.1-20\/","token":"53.1\/2\/1\/53.1-20","dublin_core":{"Title":"Commitment of convicted persons to custody of Director","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 53.1-20","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Every person convicted of a felony<\/span> committed before January 1, 1995, and sentenced to the Department<\/span> for a total period of more than two years shall be committed by the court<\/span> to the custody<\/span> of the Director<\/span> of the Department<\/span>. The Director<\/span> shall receive all such persons into the state corrections system within sixty days of the date on which the final sentencing order<\/span> is mailed by certified letter or sent by electronic transmission to the Director<\/span> by the clerk. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Persons convicted of felonies committed on or after January 1, 1995, and sentenced to the Department<\/span> or sentenced to confinement in jail for a year or more shall be placed in the custody<\/span> of the Department<\/span> and received by the Director<\/span> into the state corrections system within sixty days of the date on which the final sentencing order<\/span> is mailed by certified letter or sent by electronic transmission to the Director<\/span> by the clerk. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If the Governor finds that the number of prisoners in state facilities poses a threat to public safety, it shall be within the discretion of the Director<\/span> to determine the priority for receiving prisoners into the state corrections system from local correctional facilities. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> All felons sentenced to a period of incarceration and not placed in an adult state correctional facility<\/span> pursuant to this section shall serve their sentences in local correctional facilities which shall not include a secure facility or detention home as defined in § 16.1-228<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Felons committed to the custody<\/span> of the Department<\/span> for a new felony<\/span> offense<\/span> shall be received by the Director<\/span> into the state corrections system in accordance with the provisions of this section without any delay for resolution of (i) issues<\/span> of alleged parole<\/span> violations set for hearing<\/span> before the Parole<\/span> Board<\/span> or (ii) any other pending parole<\/span>-related administrative matter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> After accounting for safety, security, and operational factors, the Director<\/span> shall place prisoners who are known primary caretakers of minor<\/span> children in a facility as close as possible to such children. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOMMITMENT OF CONVICTED PERSONS TO CUSTODY OF DIRECTOR (\u00a7 53.1-20)\n\nA. Every person convicted of a felony committed before January 1, 1995, and\nsentenced to the Department for a total period of more than two years shall be\ncommitted by the court to the custody of the Director of the Department. The\nDirector shall receive all such persons into the state corrections system within\nsixty days of the date on which the final sentencing order is mailed by\ncertified letter or sent by electronic transmission to the Director by the\nclerk.\n\nB. Persons convicted of felonies committed on or after January 1, 1995, and\nsentenced to the Department or sentenced to confinement in jail for a year or\nmore shall be placed in the custody of the Department and received by the\nDirector into the state corrections system within sixty days of the date on\nwhich the final sentencing order is mailed by certified letter or sent by\nelectronic transmission to the Director by the clerk.\n\nC. If the Governor finds that the number of prisoners in state facilities poses\na threat to public safety, it shall be within the discretion of the Director to\ndetermine the priority for receiving prisoners into the state corrections system\nfrom local correctional facilities.\n\nD. All felons sentenced to a period of incarceration and not placed in an adult\nstate correctional facility pursuant to this section shall serve their sentences\nin local correctional facilities which shall not include a secure facility or\ndetention home as defined in § 16.1-228.\n\nE. Felons committed to the custody of the Department for a new felony offense\nshall be received by the Director into the state corrections system in\naccordance with the provisions of this section without any delay for resolution\nof (i) issues of alleged parole violations set for hearing before the Parole\nBoard or (ii) any other pending parole-related administrative matter.\n\nF. After accounting for safety, security, and operational factors, the Director\nshall place prisoners who are known primary caretakers of minor children in a\nfacility as close as possible to such children.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 19-270, 19.1-296, 53-21.1; 1960, c. 366; 1966, c. 522;\n1970, cc. 67, 648; 1972, c. 145; 1973, c. 330; 1974, cc. 44, 45, 506; 1981, c.\n529; 1982, c. 636; 1990, cc. 676, 768; 1993, c. 502; 1994, cc. 128, 859, 949;\n1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 1997, c. 840; 2020, c. 526.","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}}