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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58640</law_id><section_number>53.1-40.02</section_number><catch_line>Conditional release of terminally ill prisoners</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="2">State Correctional Facilities</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Treatment and Privileges of Prisoners</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> As used in this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">terminally ill</span>&#x201D; means having a chronic or progressive medical condition caused by injury, disease, or illness where the medical prognosis is the person&#x2019;s death within 12 months. <a id="paragraph-214870" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person serving a sentence imposed upon a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> for a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, except as provided in subsection C, who is <span class="dictionary">terminally ill</span> may <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the <span class="dictionary">Parole</span> <span class="dictionary">Board</span> for conditional release. <a id="paragraph-214871" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A person who is <span class="dictionary">terminally ill</span> and is serving a sentence imposed upon a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> for one of the following <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> shall not be eligible to <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the <span class="dictionary">Parole</span> <span class="dictionary">Board</span> for conditional release: <a id="paragraph-214872" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A Class 1 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>; <a id="paragraph-214873" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> 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-214874" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" 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-214875" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Any violation 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>, subsection A or B 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>, 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>; <a id="paragraph-214876" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C5" 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, except for a violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Violation of court order regarding custody and visitation; penalty" href="/18.2-49.1/">18.2-49.1</a>; <a id="paragraph-214877" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C6" 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="Female genital mutilation; penalty" href="/18.2-51.7/">18.2-51.7</a>, <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>, 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-214878" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C7" 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-214879" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C8" 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-214880" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C9" 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-214881" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C10" 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, except, when not committed against a <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, a violation of subdivision A 5 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Aggravated sexual battery; penalty" href="/18.2-67.3/">18.2-67.3</a>, &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Infected sexual battery; penalty" href="/18.2-67.4_1/">18.2-67.4:1</a>, subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Attempted rape, forcible sodomy, object sexual penetration, aggravated sexual battery, and sexual battery" href="/18.2-67.5/">18.2-67.5</a>, or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Punishment upon conviction of third misdemeanor offense" href="/18.2-67.5_1/">18.2-67.5:1</a>; <a id="paragraph-214882" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C11" 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> or <a class="law" title="Entering bank, armed, with intent to commit larceny" href="/18.2-93/">18.2-93</a>; <a id="paragraph-214883" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C12" 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-214884" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C13" 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 involving a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> victim; <a id="paragraph-214885" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C14" 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 involving a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> victim, 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 <a class="law" title="Offenses prohibiting entry onto school or other property; penalty" href="/18.2-370.5/">18.2-370.5</a> or subsection B 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-214886" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C14"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C15" 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 involving a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> victim, 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-214887" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C15"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C16" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">16.</span> 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="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-214888" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C16"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C17" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">17.</span> A second or subsequent <span class="dictionary">felony</span> violation of the following <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> 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. Voluntary or <span class="dictionary">involuntary 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 or any <span class="dictionary">crime</span> punishable as such;
				b. 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 <a class="law" title="Acts of violence by mob" href="/18.2-42.1/">18.2-42.1</a>;
				c. Any violation of subsection C 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>;
				d. Any violation when done unlawfully but not maliciously of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc" href="/18.2-51/">18.2-51</a> or <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>;
				e. <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>;
				f. Any violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Burglary; how punished" href="/18.2-89/">18.2-89</a> with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to commit any <span class="dictionary">larceny</span> or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Breaking and entering dwelling house with intent to commit other misdemeanor" href="/18.2-92/">18.2-92</a>;
				g. 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>;
				h. 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
				i. 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>. <a id="paragraph-214889" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#C17"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Parole</span> <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this section. <a id="paragraph-214890" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-40.02/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 33, 52.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
