<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63586</law_id><section_number>53.1-202.3</section_number><catch_line>Rate at which sentence credits may be earned; prerequisites</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>53.1-202.2</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="6">Commencement of Terms; Credits and Allowances</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Earned Sentence Credits for Persons Committed Upon Felony Offenses Committed on or After January 1, 1995</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A maximum of 4.5 sentence credits may be earned for each 30 days served on a sentence for a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> for any <span class="dictionary">offense</span> of: <a id="paragraph-231645" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A Class 1 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>; <a id="paragraph-231646" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Solicitation to commit <span class="dictionary">murder</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Criminal solicitation; penalty" href="/18.2-29/">18.2-29</a> or any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="First and second degree murder defined; punishment" href="/18.2-32/">18.2-32</a>, <a class="law" title="Murder of a pregnant woman; penalty" href="/18.2-32.1/">18.2-32.1</a>, <a class="law" title="Killing a fetus; penalty" href="/18.2-32.2/">18.2-32.2</a>, or <a class="law" title="Felony homicide defined; punishment" href="/18.2-33/">18.2-33</a>; <a id="paragraph-231647" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Lynching deemed murder" href="/18.2-40/">18.2-40</a> or <a class="law" title="Persons suffering death from mob attempting to lynch another person" href="/18.2-45/">18.2-45</a>; <a id="paragraph-231648" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Any violation of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Committing, conspiring and aiding and abetting acts of terrorism prohibited; penalty" href="/18.2-46.5/">18.2-46.5</a>, of subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Committing, conspiring and aiding and abetting acts of terrorism prohibited; penalty" href="/18.2-46.5/">18.2-46.5</a> if the death of any person results from providing any <span class="dictionary">material</span> support, or of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession, manufacture, distribution, etc., of weapon of terrorism or hoax device prohibited; penalty" href="/18.2-46.6/">18.2-46.6</a>; <a id="paragraph-231649" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Any kidnapping or abduction <span class="dictionary">felony</span> under Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Abduction and kidnapping defined; forced labor; punishment" href="/18.2-47/">18.2-47</a> et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; <a id="paragraph-231650" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">malicious</span> felonious <span class="dictionary">assault</span> or <span class="dictionary">malicious</span> bodily wounding under Article 4 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc" href="/18.2-51/">18.2-51</a> et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2, any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Strangulation or suffocation of another; penalty" href="/18.2-51.6/">18.2-51.6</a> or <a class="law" title="Female genital mutilation; penalty" href="/18.2-51.7/">18.2-51.7</a>, or any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Assault and battery against a family or household member; penalty" href="/18.2-57.2/">18.2-57.2</a>; <a id="paragraph-231651" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Stalking; penalty" href="/18.2-60.3/">18.2-60.3</a>; <a id="paragraph-231652" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Violation of provisions of protective orders; penalties" href="/16.1-253.2/">16.1-253.2</a> or <a class="law" title="Violation of protective orders; penalty" href="/18.2-60.4/">18.2-60.4</a>; <a id="paragraph-231653" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> <span class="dictionary">Robbery</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Robbery; penalties" href="/18.2-58/">18.2-58</a> or carjacking under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Carjacking; penalty" href="/18.2-58.1/">18.2-58.1</a>; <a id="paragraph-231654" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Criminal sexual <span class="dictionary">assault</span> punishable as a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> under Article 7 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Rape" href="/18.2-61/">18.2-61</a> et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2; <a id="paragraph-231655" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Entering dwelling house, etc., with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery or arson; penalty" href="/18.2-90/">18.2-90</a>; <a id="paragraph-231656" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> Any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Use of machine gun for crime of violence" href="/18.2-289/">18.2-289</a> or subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession or use of &quot;sawed-off&quot; shotgun or rifle" href="/18.2-300/">18.2-300</a>; <a id="paragraph-231657" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A13" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> in Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Prostitution; commercial sexual conduct; penalties" href="/18.2-346/">18.2-346</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2; <a id="paragraph-231658" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A14" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">14.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> in Article 4 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Person marrying when spouse is living; penalty; venue" href="/18.2-362/">18.2-362</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, except for a violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Person marrying when spouse is living; penalty; venue" href="/18.2-362/">18.2-362</a> or subsection B or C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Abuse and neglect of children; penalties; abandoned infant" href="/18.2-371.1/">18.2-371.1</a>; <a id="paragraph-231659" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A14"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A15" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">15.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span> in Article 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="&quot;Obscene&quot; defined" href="/18.2-372/">18.2-372</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, except for a violation of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography; penalty" href="/18.2-374.1_1/">18.2-374.1:1</a>; <a id="paragraph-231660" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A15"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A16" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">16.</span> Any violation of subsection F of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Cruelty to animals; penalty" href="/3.2-6570/">3.2-6570</a>, any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trespass upon church or school property" href="/18.2-128/">18.2-128</a>, or any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Treason defined; how proved and punished" href="/18.2-481/">18.2-481</a>, <a class="law" title="Escape of persons committed; penalty" href="/37.2-917/">37.2-917</a>, <a class="law" title="Persons on conditional release leaving Commonwealth; penalty" href="/37.2-918/">37.2-918</a>, <a class="law" title="Employment involving sexually explicit visual material prohibited" href="/40.1-100.2/">40.1-100.2</a>, or <a class="law" title="Cruelty and injuries to children; penalty; abandoned infant" href="/40.1-103/">40.1-103</a>; or <a id="paragraph-231661" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A16"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A17" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">17.</span> A second or subsequent violation of the following <span class="dictionary">offenses</span>, in any combination, when such <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> were not part of a common act, transaction, or scheme and such person has been at liberty as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Eligibility for parole" href="/53.1-151/">53.1-151</a> between each <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>:
				a. Any <span class="dictionary">felony</span> violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Animal fighting; penalty" href="/3.2-6571/">3.2-6571</a>;
				b. Voluntary <span class="dictionary">manslaughter</span> under Article 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Murder and manslaughter declared felonies" href="/18.2-30/">18.2-30</a> et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;
				c. Any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc., by mob" href="/18.2-41/">18.2-41</a> or <span class="dictionary">felony</span> violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Acts of violence by mob" href="/18.2-42.1/">18.2-42.1</a>;
				d. Any violation of subsection B, C, or D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Committing, conspiring and aiding and abetting acts of terrorism prohibited; penalty" href="/18.2-46.5/">18.2-46.5</a> or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Act of bioterrorism against agricultural crops or animals; penalty" href="/18.2-46.7/">18.2-46.7</a>;
				e. Any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc" href="/18.2-51/">18.2-51</a> when done unlawfully but not maliciously, &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Malicious bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel; penalty; lesser-included offense" href="/18.2-51.1/">18.2-51.1</a> when done unlawfully but not maliciously, or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Attempts to poison" href="/18.2-54.1/">18.2-54.1</a> or <a class="law" title="Adulteration of food, drink, drugs, cosmetics, etc.; penalty" href="/18.2-54.2/">18.2-54.2</a>;
				f. <span class="dictionary">Arson</span> in violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Burning or destroying dwelling house, etc" href="/18.2-77/">18.2-77</a> when the structure burned was occupied or a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">felony</span> violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Burning or destroying meeting house, etc" href="/18.2-79/">18.2-79</a>;
				g. Any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Burglary; how punished" href="/18.2-89/">18.2-89</a> or <a class="law" title="Breaking and entering dwelling house with intent to commit other misdemeanor" href="/18.2-92/">18.2-92</a>;
				h. Any violation of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography; penalty" href="/18.2-374.1_1/">18.2-374.1:1</a>;
				i. Any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Burning cross on property of another or public place with intent to intimidate; penalty; prima facie evidence of intent" href="/18.2-423/">18.2-423</a>, <a class="law" title="Burning object on property of another or a highway or other public place with intent to intimidate; penalty" href="/18.2-423.01/">18.2-423.01</a>, <a class="law" title="Placing Nazi symbol or emblem on certain property with intent to intimidate; penalty; prima facie evidence of intent" href="/18.2-423.1/">18.2-423.1</a>, <a class="law" title="Displaying noose on property of another or a highway or other public place with intent to intimidate; penalty" href="/18.2-423.2/">18.2-423.2</a>, or <a class="law" title="Paramilitary activity prohibited; penalty" href="/18.2-433.2/">18.2-433.2</a>; or
				j. Any violation of subdivision E 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Time and medium of payment; withholding wages; written statement of earnings; agreement for forfeiture of wages; proceedings to enforce compliance; penalties" href="/40.1-29/">40.1-29</a>.
				The earning of sentence credits shall be conditioned, in part, upon full participation in and cooperation with programs to which a person is assigned pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Classification system; program assignments; mandatory participation" href="/53.1-32.1/">53.1-32.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-231662" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#A17"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> For any <span class="dictionary">offense</span> other than those enumerated in subsection A for which sentence credits may be earned, earned sentence credits shall be awarded and calculated using the following four-level classification system: <a id="paragraph-231663" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Level I. For persons receiving Level I sentence credits, 15 days shall be deducted from the person&#x2019;s sentence for every 30 days served. Level I sentence credits shall be awarded to persons who participate in and cooperate with all programs to which the person is assigned pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Classification system; program assignments; mandatory participation" href="/53.1-32.1/">53.1-32.1</a> and who have no more than one <span class="dictionary">minor</span> correctional infraction and no serious correctional infractions as established by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x2019;s policies or procedures. <a id="paragraph-231664" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Level II. For persons receiving Level II sentence credits, 7.5 days shall be deducted from the person&#x2019;s sentence for every 30 days served. Level II sentence credits shall be awarded to persons who participate in and cooperate with all programs, job assignments, and educational curriculums to which the person is assigned pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Classification system; program assignments; mandatory participation" href="/53.1-32.1/">53.1-32.1</a>, but who require improvement in not more than one area as established by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x2019;s policies or procedures. <a id="paragraph-231665" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Level III. For persons receiving Level III sentence credits, 3.5 days shall be deducted from the person&#x2019;s sentence for every 30 days served. Level III sentence credits shall be awarded to persons who participate in and cooperate with all programs, job assignments, and educational curriculums to which the person is assigned pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Classification system; program assignments; mandatory participation" href="/53.1-32.1/">53.1-32.1</a>, but who require significant improvement in two or more areas as established by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x2019;s policies or procedures. <a id="paragraph-231666" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Level IV. No sentence credits shall be awarded to persons classified in Level IV. A person will be classified in Level IV if that person willfully fails to participate in or cooperate with all programs, job assignments, and educational curriculums to which the person is assigned pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Classification system; program assignments; mandatory participation" href="/53.1-32.1/">53.1-32.1</a> or that person causes substantial security or operational problems at the correctional facility as established by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x2019;s policies or procedures. <a id="paragraph-231667" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A person&#x2019;s classification level under subsection B shall be reviewed at least once annually, and the classification level may be adjusted based upon that person&#x2019;s participation in and cooperation with programs, job assignments, and educational curriculums assigned pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Classification system; program assignments; mandatory participation" href="/53.1-32.1/">53.1-32.1</a>. A person&#x2019;s classification and calculation of earned sentence credits shall not be lowered or withheld due to a lack of programming, educational, or employment opportunities at the correctional facility at which the person is confined. Records from this review, including an explanation of the reasons why a person&#x2019;s classification level was or was not adjusted, shall be maintained in the person&#x2019;s correctional file. <a id="paragraph-231668" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A person&#x2019;s classification level under subsection B may be immediately reviewed and adjusted following removal from a program, job assignment, or educational curriculum that was assigned pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Classification system; program assignments; mandatory participation" href="/53.1-32.1/">53.1-32.1</a> for disciplinary or noncompliance reasons. <a id="paragraph-231669" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A person may <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> a reclassification determination under subsection C or D in the manner set forth in the grievance procedure established by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> pursuant to his powers and duties as set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Powers and duties of Director" href="/53.1-10/">53.1-10</a>. <a id="paragraph-231670" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> For a juvenile sentenced to serve a portion of his sentence as a serious juvenile offender under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Commitment of serious offenders" href="/16.1-285.1/">16.1-285.1</a>, consideration for earning sentence credits shall be conditioned, in part, upon full participation in and cooperation with programs afforded to the juvenile during that portion of the sentence. The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Juvenile Justice shall provide a report that describes the juvenile&#x2019;s adherence to the facility&#x2019;s rules and the juvenile&#x2019;s progress toward treatment goals and objectives while sentenced as a serious juvenile offender under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Commitment of serious offenders" href="/16.1-285.1/">16.1-285.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-231671" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, no portion of any sentence credits earned shall be applied to reduce the period of time a person must serve before becoming eligible for <span class="dictionary">parole</span> upon any sentence. <a id="paragraph-231672" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-202.3/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 2008, c. 517; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 50, 52; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 389; 2024, cc. 161, 162.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
