Whether by trial or upon a plea of guilty, upon a finding that the defendant is guilty of a felony, the court shall permit the victim, as defined in § 19.2-11.01, upon motion of the attorney for the Commonwealth, to testify in the presence of the accused regarding the impact of the offense upon the victim. The court shall limit the victim's testimony to the factors set forth in clauses (i) through (vi) of subsection A of § 19.2-299.1. In the case of trial by jury and when the accused has requested the jury to ascertain punishment as provided in subsection A of § 19.2-295, the court shall permit the victim to testify at the sentencing hearing conducted pursuant to § 19.2-295.1. In all other cases of trial by jury, the case of trial by the court, or the case of a guilty plea, the court shall permit the victim to testify before the court prior to the imposition of the sentence by the presiding judge.
1998, c. 485; 2004, c. 310; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, c. 43; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 344, 345.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 19.2 - Criminal Procedure
Chapter 18 - Sentence; Judgment; Execution of Sentence
§ 19.2-295. Ascertainment of punishment
§ 19.2-295.1. Sentencing proceeding by the jury after conviction
§ 19.2-295.3. Admission of victim impact testimony
§ 19.2-296. Withdrawal of plea of guilty
§ 19.2-297.1. Sentence of person twice previously convicted of certain violent felonies
§ 19.2-298. Pronouncement of sentence
§ 19.2-298.01. Use of discretionary sentencing guidelines
§ 19.2-298.02. Deferred disposition in a criminal case
§ 19.2-299. Investigations and reports by probation officers in certain cases
§ 19.2-299.1. When Victim Impact Statement required; contents; uses
§ 19.2-302. Construction and administration of §§ 19.2-300 and 19.2-301
§ 19.2-303.01. Reduction of sentence; substantial assistance to prosecution
§ 19.2-303.1. Fixing period of suspension of sentence
§ 19.2-303.2. Persons charged with first offense may be placed on probation
§ 19.2-303.4. Payment of costs when proceedings deferred and defendant placed on probation
§ 19.2-304. Increasing or decreasing probation period and modification of conditions
§ 19.2-305.1. Restitution for property damage or loss; community service
§ 19.2-305.2. Amount of restitution; enforcement
§ 19.2-305.4. When interest to be paid on award of restitution
§ 19.2-306. Revocation of suspension of sentence and probation
§ 19.2-306.1. Limitation on sentence upon revocation of suspension of sentence; exceptions
§ 19.2-307. Contents of judgment order
§ 19.2-308. When two or more sentences run concurrently
§ 19.2-308.1. When sentence may run concurrently with sentence in another jurisdiction
§ 19.2-310. Transfer of prisoners to custody of Director of Department of Corrections
§ 19.2-310.01. Transmission of sentencing documents
§ 19.2-310.2:1. Saliva or tissue sample required for DNA analysis after arrest for a violent felony
§ 19.2-310.3. Procedures for withdrawal of blood, saliva or tissue sample for DNA analysis
§ 19.2-310.3:1. Procedures for taking saliva or tissue sample for DNA analysis
§ 19.2-310.4. Procedures for conducting DNA analysis of blood, saliva or tissue sample
§ 19.2-310.6. Unauthorized uses of DNA data bank; forensic samples; penalties
§ 19.2-313. Eligibility for release
§ 19.2-314. Supervision of persons released
§ 19.2-316. Evaluation and report prior to determining punishment