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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67916</law_id><section_number>19.2-295.1</section_number><catch_line>Sentencing proceeding by the jury after conviction</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-295</reference><reference>19.2-295.3</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="18">Sentence; Judgment; Execution of Sentence</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In cases of trial by <span class="dictionary">jury</span>, upon a <span class="dictionary">finding</span> that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is guilty of a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> or a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>, or upon a <span class="dictionary">finding</span> in the <span class="dictionary">trial de novo</span> of an appealed <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>, a separate proceeding limited to the ascertainment of punishment shall be held as soon as practicable before the same <span class="dictionary">jury</span> when ascertainment of punishment by <span class="dictionary">jury</span> has been requested by the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> as provided in subsection A of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Ascertainment of punishment" href="/19.2-295/">19.2-295</a>. At such proceeding, the Commonwealth may present any victim impact <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Admission of victim impact testimony" href="/19.2-295.3/">19.2-295.3</a> and shall present the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s prior criminal history, including prior <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> and the punishments imposed, by certified, attested, or exemplified copies of the <span class="dictionary">final order</span>, including adult <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> and juvenile <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> and adjudications of delinquency. Prior <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> shall include <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> and adjudications of delinquency under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of any state, the District of Columbia, the United States or its territories. The Commonwealth shall provide to the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> 14 days prior to trial notice of its intention to introduce copies of <span class="dictionary">final orders</span> evidencing the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>&#x2019;s prior criminal history, including prior <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> and punishments imposed. Such notice shall include (i) the date of each prior <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, (ii) the name and <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> where each prior <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> was had, (iii) each <span class="dictionary">offense</span> of which he was convicted, and (iv) the punishment imposed. Prior to commencement of the trial, the Commonwealth shall provide to the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> photocopies of certified copies of the <span class="dictionary">final orders</span> that it intends to introduce at sentencing. After the Commonwealth has introduced in its case-in-chief of the sentencing phase such <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of prior <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> or victim impact <span class="dictionary">testimony</span>, or both, or if no such <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> is introduced, the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> may introduce relevant, <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> related to punishment. Nothing in this section shall prevent the Commonwealth or the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> from introducing relevant, <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> in <span class="dictionary">rebuttal</span>.
		If the <span class="dictionary">jury</span> cannot agree on a punishment, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall fix punishment.
		If the sentence imposed pursuant to this section is subsequently set aside or found invalid solely due to an error in the sentencing proceeding, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall impanel a different <span class="dictionary">jury</span> to ascertain punishment, unless the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>, the attorney for the Commonwealth and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> agree, in the manner provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Trial without jury in felony cases" href="/19.2-257/">19.2-257</a>, that the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall fix punishment.</p></section></text><history>1994, cc. 828, 860, 862, 881; 1995, c. 567; 1996, c. 664; 2001, c. 389; 2007, cc. 388, 478; 2012, c. 134; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, c. 43.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
