<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79572</law_id><section_number>19.2-319</section_number><catch_line>When execution of sentence to be suspended; bail; appeal from denial</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-128</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="19">Exceptions and Writs of Error</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>If a person sentenced by a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> to confinement in the state correctional facility indicates an intention to apply for a <span class="dictionary">writ</span> of error, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall postpone the execution of such sentence for such time as it may deem proper.
		In any other criminal case wherein <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> is given by any <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> to which a <span class="dictionary">writ</span> of error lies, and in any case of <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> for any civil or criminal <span class="dictionary">contempt</span>, from which an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> may be taken or to which a <span class="dictionary">writ</span> of error lies, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> giving such <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> may postpone the execution thereof for such time and on such terms as it deems proper.
		In any case after <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> if the sentence, or the execution thereof, is suspended in accordance with this section, or for any other cause, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span>, or the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> thereof, may, and in any case of a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> shall, set <span class="dictionary">bail</span> in such <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> and for <span class="dictionary">appearance</span> at such time as the nature of the case may require, provided that if the <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> was for a violent <span class="dictionary">felony</span> as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Sentence of person twice previously convicted of certain violent felonies" href="/19.2-297.1/">19.2-297.1</a> and the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> was sentenced to serve a period of incarceration not subject to suspension, then the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall presume, subject to <span class="dictionary">rebuttal</span>, that no condition or combination of conditions of <span class="dictionary">bail</span> will reasonably assure the <span class="dictionary">appearance</span> of the convicted person or the safety of the public.
		In any case in which the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> denies <span class="dictionary">bail</span>, the reason for such denial shall be stated on the record of the case. A <span class="dictionary">writ</span> of error from the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> shall lie to any such <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> refusing <span class="dictionary">bail</span> or requiring excessive <span class="dictionary">bail</span>. Upon review by the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span>, if the decision by the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> to deny <span class="dictionary">bail</span> is overruled, the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> shall either set <span class="dictionary">bail</span> or <span class="dictionary">remand</span> the matter to <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> for such further action regarding <span class="dictionary">bail</span> as the <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of <span class="dictionary">Appeals</span> directs.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-281; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495; 1979, c. 649; 1984, c. 703; 1987, c. 175; 1988, c. 524; 1999, c. 821; 2008, cc. 126, 146; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 344, 345; 2025, c. 305.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
