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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77539</law_id><section_number>53.1-165.1</section_number><catch_line>Limitation on the application of parole statutes</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>53.1-136</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="53.1">Prisons and Other Methods of Correction</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="4">Probation and Parole</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Procedures Governing Parole</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The provisions of this article, except &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Notice to be given upon prisoner release, escape, etc" href="/53.1-160/">53.1-160</a> and <a class="law" title="Department to give notice of Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry requirements to certain prisoners" href="/53.1-160.1/">53.1-160.1</a>, shall not apply to any sentence imposed or to any prisoner incarcerated upon a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> for a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> committed on or after January 1, 1995. Any person sentenced to a term of incarceration for a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> committed on or after January 1, 1995, shall not be eligible for <span class="dictionary">parole</span> upon that <span class="dictionary">offense</span>. <a id="paragraph-278133" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-165.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The provisions of this article shall apply to any person who was sentenced by a <span class="dictionary">jury</span> prior to June 9, 2000, for any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> committed on or after January 1, 1995, and who remained incarcerated for such <span class="dictionary">offense</span> on July 1, 2020, other than (i) a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">felony</span> or (ii) any of the following <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> where the victim was a <span class="dictionary">minor</span>: (a) <span class="dictionary">rape</span> in violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Rape" href="/18.2-61/">18.2-61</a>; (b) forcible sodomy in violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Forcible sodomy" href="/18.2-67.1/">18.2-67.1</a>; (c) <span class="dictionary">object</span> sexual penetration in violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Object sexual penetration; penalty" href="/18.2-67.2/">18.2-67.2</a>; (d) aggravated sexual <span class="dictionary">battery</span> in violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Aggravated sexual battery; penalty" href="/18.2-67.3/">18.2-67.3</a>; (e) an attempt to commit a violation of clause (a), (b), (c), or (d); or (f) carnal knowledge in violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Carnal knowledge of child between thirteen and fifteen years of age" href="/18.2-63/">18.2-63</a>, <a class="law" title="Carnal knowledge of certain minors" href="/18.2-64.1/">18.2-64.1</a>, or <a class="law" title="Carnal knowledge of a person detained or arrested by a law-enforcement officer or an inmate, parolee, probationer, juvenile detainee, pretrial defendant or posttrial offender, or confidential informant; penalty" href="/18.2-64.2/">18.2-64.2</a>. <a id="paragraph-278134" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-165.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Parole</span> <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall establish procedures for consideration of <span class="dictionary">parole</span> of persons entitled under subsection B consistent with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Times at which Virginia Parole Board to review cases" href="/53.1-154/">53.1-154</a>. <a id="paragraph-278135" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-165.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Any person who meets eligibility criteria for <span class="dictionary">parole</span> under subsection B and pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Eligibility for parole" href="/53.1-151/">53.1-151</a> as of July 1, 2020, shall be scheduled for a <span class="dictionary">parole</span> interview no later than July 1, 2021, allowing for extension of time for reasonable cause. <a id="paragraph-278136" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-165.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A or any other provision of this article to the contrary, any person sentenced to a term of life imprisonment for a single <span class="dictionary">felony</span> or multiple felonies committed while the person was a juvenile and who has served at least 20 years of such sentence shall be eligible for <span class="dictionary">parole</span> and any person who has active sentences that total more than 20 years for a single <span class="dictionary">felony</span> or multiple felonies committed while the person was a juvenile and who has served at least 20 years of such sentences shall be eligible for <span class="dictionary">parole</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall review and decide the case of each prisoner who is eligible for <span class="dictionary">parole</span> in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Times at which Virginia Parole Board to review cases" href="/53.1-154/">53.1-154</a> and rules adopted pursuant to subdivision 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Powers and duties of Board; notice of release of certain inmates; report" href="/53.1-136/">53.1-136</a>. <a id="paragraph-278137" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-165.1/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 2020, cc. 2, 529, 1200, 1272.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
