{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/53.1-203.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/53.1-203.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/53.1-203.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/53.1-203.html"}],"law_id":60787,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60787,"structure_id":15783,"section_number":"53.1-203","catch_line":"Felonies by prisoners; penalties","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 53-291; 1966, c. 300; 1970, c. 648; 1973, c. 403; 1975, c. 588; 1977, c. 497; 1978, cc. 177, 361; 1982, c. 636; 1985, c. 555; 1988, c. 371; 2004, c. 461; 2006, c. 104; 2011, cc. 384, 410; 2014, cc. 674, 719.","full_text":"It shall be unlawful for a prisoner in a state, local or community correctional facility or in the custody of an employee thereof to:\n\n1\n\nEscape from a correctional facility or from any person in charge of such prisoner;2\n\nWillfully break, cut or damage any building, furniture, fixture or fastening of such facility or any part thereof for the purpose of escaping, aiding any other prisoner to escape therefrom or rendering such facility less secure as a place of confinement;3\n\nMake, procure, secrete or have in his possession any instrument, tool or other thing for the purpose of escaping from or aiding another to escape from a correctional facility or employee thereof;4\n\nMake, procure, secrete or have in his possession a knife, instrument, tool or other thing not authorized by the superintendent or sheriff which is capable of causing death or bodily injury;5\n\nProcure, sell, secrete or have in his possession any chemical compound which he has not lawfully received;6\n\nProcure, sell, secrete or have in his possession a controlled substance classified in Schedule III of the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) or marijuana;7\n\nIntroduce into a correctional facility or have in his possession firearms or ammunition for firearms;8\n\nWillfully burn or destroy by use of any explosive device or substance, in whole or in part, or cause to be so burned or destroyed, any personal property, within any correctional facility;9\n\nWillfully tamper with, damage, destroy, or disable any fire protection or fire suppression system, equipment, or sprinklers within any correctional facility; or10\n\nConspire with another prisoner or other prisoners to commit any of the foregoing acts.\n\t\t\tFor violation of any of the provisions of this section, except subdivision 6, the prisoner shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. For a violation of subdivision 6, he shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony. If the violation is of subdivision 1 of this section and the escapee is a felon, he shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of confinement of one year, which shall be served consecutively with any other sentence. The prisoner shall, upon conviction of escape, immediately commence to serve such escape sentence, and he shall not be eligible for parole during such period. Any prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment who escapes shall not be eligible for parole. No part of the time served for escape shall be credited for the purpose of parole toward the sentence or sentences, the service of which is interrupted for service of the escape sentence, nor shall it be credited for such purpose toward any other sentence.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":222238,"text":"It shall be unlawful for a prisoner in a state, local or community correctional facility or in the custody of an employee thereof to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":222239,"text":"Escape from a correctional facility or from any person in charge of such prisoner;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":222240,"text":"Willfully break, cut or damage any building, furniture, fixture or fastening of such facility or any part thereof for the purpose of escaping, aiding any other prisoner to escape therefrom or rendering such facility less secure as a place of confinement;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":222241,"text":"Make, procure, secrete or have in his possession any instrument, tool or other thing for the purpose of escaping from or aiding another to escape from a correctional facility or employee thereof;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":222242,"text":"Make, procure, secrete or have in his possession a knife, instrument, tool or other thing not authorized by the superintendent or sheriff which is capable of causing death or bodily injury;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":222243,"text":"Procure, sell, secrete or have in his possession any chemical compound which he has not lawfully received;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":222244,"text":"Procure, sell, secrete or have in his possession a controlled substance classified in Schedule III of the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) or marijuana;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":222245,"text":"Introduce into a correctional facility or have in his possession firearms or ammunition for firearms;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":222246,"text":"Willfully burn or destroy by use of any explosive device or substance, in whole or in part, or cause to be so burned or destroyed, any personal property, within any correctional facility;","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":222247,"text":"Willfully tamper with, damage, destroy, or disable any fire protection or fire suppression system, equipment, or sprinklers within any correctional facility; or","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"10":{"id":222248,"text":"Conspire with another prisoner or other prisoners to commit any of the foregoing acts.\n\t\t\tFor violation of any of the provisions of this section, except subdivision 6, the prisoner shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. For a violation of subdivision 6, he shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony. If the violation is of subdivision 1 of this section and the escapee is a felon, he shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of confinement of one year, which shall be served consecutively with any other sentence. The prisoner shall, upon conviction of escape, immediately commence to serve such escape sentence, and he shall not be eligible for parole during such period. Any prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment who escapes shall not be eligible for parole. No part of the time served for escape shall be credited for the purpose of parole toward the sentence or sentences, the service of which is interrupted for service of the escape sentence, nor shall it be credited for such purpose toward any other sentence.","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15783,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes by Prisoners","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":15782,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:59:29","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:59:29","permalink":{"id":239245,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15783,"identifier":"1","token":"53.1\/7\/1","url":"\/53.1\/7\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":15782,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Criminal Proceedings Involving Prisoners","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12717,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:59:29","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:59:29","permalink":{"id":239243,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15782,"identifier":"7","token":"53.1\/7","url":"\/53.1\/7\/","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":60787,"structure_id":15783,"section_number":"53.1-203","catch_line":"Felonies by prisoners; penalties","url":"\/53.1-203\/","token":"53.1\/7\/1\/53.1-203","metadata":false},{"id":71084,"structure_id":15783,"section_number":"53.1-204","catch_line":"If prisoner commits any other felony, how punished","url":"\/53.1-204\/","token":"53.1\/7\/1\/53.1-204","metadata":false},{"id":68770,"structure_id":15783,"section_number":"53.1-205","catch_line":"Jurisdiction for trial of prisoners; nature of proceedings","url":"\/53.1-205\/","token":"53.1\/7\/1\/53.1-205","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":71084,"structure_id":15783,"section_number":"53.1-204","catch_line":"If prisoner commits any other felony, how punished","url":"\/53.1-204\/","token":"53.1\/7\/1\/53.1-204","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/53.1-203\/","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 1966, chapter 300; in 1970, chapter 648; in 1973, chapter 403; in 1975, chapter 588; in 1977, chapter 497; in 1978, chapters 177 and 361; in 1982, chapter 636; in 1985, chapter 555; in 1988, chapter 371; in 2004, chapter 461<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 104<\/a>; in 2011, chapters 384<\/a> and 410<\/a>; in 2014, chapters 674<\/a> and 719<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":80246,"section_number":"17.1-805","catch_line":"Adoption of initial discretionary sentencing guideline midpoints","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-805\/"},{"id":69096,"section_number":"18.2-477.2","catch_line":"Punishment for certain offenses committed within a secure juvenile facility or detention home","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-477.2\/"},{"id":67789,"section_number":"19.2-188.1","catch_line":"Testimony regarding identification of controlled substances","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-188.1\/"},{"id":61280,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"},{"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":71084,"section_number":"53.1-204","catch_line":"If prisoner commits any other felony, how punished","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-204\/"},{"id":68770,"section_number":"53.1-205","catch_line":"Jurisdiction for trial of prisoners; nature of proceedings","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-205\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":77846,"section_number":"54.1-3400","catch_line":"Citation","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3400\/"}],"permalink":{"id":239247,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60787,"identifier":"53.1-203","token":"53.1\/7\/1\/53.1-203","url":"\/53.1-203\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/53.1-203\/","token":"53.1\/7\/1\/53.1-203","dublin_core":{"Title":"Felonies by prisoners; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 53.1-203","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

It shall be unlawful for a prisoner in a state, local or community correctional facility<\/span> or in the custody<\/span> of an employee thereof to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Escape from a correctional facility or from any person in charge of such prisoner; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Willfully break, cut or damage any building, furniture, fixture or fastening of such facility or any part thereof for the purpose of escaping, aiding any other prisoner to escape therefrom or rendering such facility less secure as a place of confinement; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Make, procure, secrete or have in his possession<\/span> any instrument, tool or other thing for the purpose of escaping from or aiding another to escape from a correctional facility or employee thereof; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Make, procure, secrete or have in his possession<\/span> a knife, instrument, tool or other thing not authorized by the superintendent or sheriff which is capable of causing death or bodily injury; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Procure, sell, secrete or have in his possession<\/span> any chemical compound which he has not lawfully received; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Procure, sell, secrete or have in his possession<\/span> a controlled substance classified in Schedule III of the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400<\/a> et seq.) or marijuana; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Introduce into a correctional facility or have in his possession<\/span> firearms or ammunition for firearms; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Willfully burn or destroy by use of any explosive device or substance, in whole or in part, or cause to be so burned or destroyed, any personal property, within any correctional facility; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Willfully tamper with, damage, destroy, or disable any fire protection or fire suppression system, equipment, or sprinklers within any correctional facility; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> Conspire with another prisoner or other prisoners to commit any of the foregoing acts.\n\t\t\tFor violation of any of the provisions of this section, except subdivision 6, the prisoner shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. For a violation of subdivision 6, he shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony<\/span>. If the violation is of subdivision 1 of this section and the escapee is a felon, he shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of confinement of one year, which shall be served consecutively with any other sentence. The prisoner shall, upon conviction<\/span> of escape, immediately commence to serve such escape sentence, and he shall not be eligible for parole<\/span> during such period. Any prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment who escapes shall not be eligible for parole<\/span>. No part of the time served for escape shall be credited for the purpose of parole<\/span> toward the sentence or sentences, the service of which is interrupted for service of the escape sentence, nor shall it be credited for such purpose toward any other sentence. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFELONIES BY PRISONERS; PENALTIES (\u00a7 53.1-203)\n\nIt shall be unlawful for a prisoner in a state, local or community correctional\nfacility or in the custody of an employee thereof to:\n\n1. Escape from a correctional facility or from any person in charge of such\nprisoner;\n\n2. Willfully break, cut or damage any building, furniture, fixture or fastening\nof such facility or any part thereof for the purpose of escaping, aiding any\nother prisoner to escape therefrom or rendering such facility less secure as a\nplace of confinement;\n\n3. Make, procure, secrete or have in his possession any instrument, tool or\nother thing for the purpose of escaping from or aiding another to escape from a\ncorrectional facility or employee thereof;\n\n4. Make, procure, secrete or have in his possession a knife, instrument, tool or\nother thing not authorized by the superintendent or sheriff which is capable of\ncausing death or bodily injury;\n\n5. Procure, sell, secrete or have in his possession any chemical compound which\nhe has not lawfully received;\n\n6. Procure, sell, secrete or have in his possession a controlled substance\nclassified in Schedule III of the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) or\nmarijuana;\n\n7. Introduce into a correctional facility or have in his possession firearms or\nammunition for firearms;\n\n8. Willfully burn or destroy by use of any explosive device or substance, in\nwhole or in part, or cause to be so burned or destroyed, any personal property,\nwithin any correctional facility;\n\n9. Willfully tamper with, damage, destroy, or disable any fire protection or\nfire suppression system, equipment, or sprinklers within any correctional\nfacility; or\n\n10. Conspire with another prisoner or other prisoners to commit any of the\nforegoing acts.\n\t\t\tFor violation of any of the provisions of this section, except subdivision 6,\nthe prisoner shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. For a violation of subdivision\n6, he shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony. If the violation is of subdivision 1\nof this section and the escapee is a felon, he shall be sentenced to a mandatory\nminimum term of confinement of one year, which shall be served consecutively\nwith any other sentence. The prisoner shall, upon conviction of escape,\nimmediately commence to serve such escape sentence, and he shall not be eligible\nfor parole during such period. Any prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment who\nescapes shall not be eligible for parole. No part of the time served for escape\nshall be credited for the purpose of parole toward the sentence or sentences,\nthe service of which is interrupted for service of the escape sentence, nor\nshall it be credited for such purpose toward any other sentence.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 53-291; 1966, c. 300; 1970, c. 648; 1973, c. 403; 1975,\nc. 588; 1977, c. 497; 1978, cc. 177, 361; 1982, c. 636; 1985, c. 555; 1988, c.\n371; 2004, c. 461; 2006, c. 104; 2011, cc. 384, 410; 2014, cc. 674, 719.","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}}