                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PRONOUNCEMENT OF SENTENCE (§ 19.2-298)

After a finding of guilty, sentence shall be pronounced, or decision to suspend
the imposition of sentence shall be announced, without unreasonable delay.
Pending pronouncement, the court may commit the accused to jail or may continue
or alter the bail except that in those cases where the accused is convicted of a
murder in the first degree, the court shall commit him to jail and he shall not
be allowed bail pending the pronouncement of sentence. Before pronouncing the
sentence, the court shall inquire of the accused if he desires to make a
statement and if he desires to advance any reason why judgment should not be
pronounced against him.
		Whenever any person willfully and knowingly fails to surrender or submit to
the custody of a sheriff as ordered by a court, any law-enforcement officer,
with or without a warrant, may arrest such person anywhere in the Commonwealth.
If the arrest is made in the county or city in which the person was ordered to
surrender, or in an adjoining county or city, the officer may forthwith return
the accused before the proper court. If the arrest is made beyond the foregoing
limits, the officer shall proceed according to the provisions of § 19.2-76, and
if such arrest is made without a warrant, the officer shall procure a warrant
from the magistrate serving the county or city wherein the arrest was made,
charging the accused with contempt of court.
		After the pronouncement of sentence, if the court is aware that the defendant
is registered, certified, or licensed by a health regulatory board or holds a
multistate licensure privilege, or is licensed by the Department of Behavioral
Health and Developmental Services in accordance with § 37.2-404, and the
defendant has been convicted of a felony, crime involving moral turpitude, or
crime that occurred during the course of practice for which such practitioner or
person is licensed, the court shall order the clerk of the court to transmit
certified copies of sentencing documents to the Director of the Department of
Health Professions or to the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental
Services. Such certified copies of sentencing documents shall be transmitted
within 30 days after the sentencing hearing.

HISTORY: 1975, c. 495; 1976, c. 285; 2009, c. 192; 2022, c. 339.