The Director is authorized to determine those prisoners who may be suitable parole risks and whose interests and those of society will be served by their early parole release and to recommend such prisoners to the Parole Board for early parole consideration. In making such recommendation, the Director shall take into account the prisoner's criminal history record, mental and physical condition, employability, institutional adjustment and such other factors as may be appropriate, including the risk of violence to others. The case of any such prisoner so recommended may be reviewed by the Parole Board prior to such prisoner's date of eligibility for parole. Upon appropriate review the Parole Board may release on parole prior to the date of eligibility for parole any prisoner so recommended by the Director. However, no prisoner shall be released until he has served at least one-fourth of the term of imprisonment imposed, or until he has served twelve years of the term of imprisonment imposed if one-fourth of the term of imprisonment imposed is more than twelve years, except as such time is reduced by any other provision of law.
This section shall have no application to persons not eligible for parole pursuant to subsections B, B1 and E of § 53.1-151.
1983, c. 378; 2020, c. 759.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 53.1 - Prisons and Other Methods of Correction
Chapter 4 - Probation and Parole
§ 53.1-134. Creation of Parole Board; appointment of members
§ 53.1-135. Chairman; Vice-Chairman of Board
§ 53.1-136. Powers and duties of Board; notice of release of certain inmates
§ 53.1-137. Revocation hearings and subpoenas; penalty for disobeying subpoena or hindering hearing
§ 53.1-138. Access to prisoners; reports of prison officials
§ 53.1-139. Powers and duties of Chairman
§ 53.1-140. Powers and duties of Director of Department
§ 53.1-140.1. Department to provide services
§ 53.1-141. Division into probation and parole districts
§ 53.1-142. Assignments of officers to districts
§ 53.1-143. How officers authorized
§ 53.1-145. Powers and duties of probation and parole officers
§ 53.1-146. Use of officers as to persons convicted of local violations; payment of expenses
§ 53.1-147. Compensation; expenses
§ 53.1-148. Transfer of supervision from one probation officer to another
§ 53.1-149. Arrest of probationer without warrant; written statement
§ 53.1-150. Contributions by persons on parole, probation, and work release
§ 53.1-150.1. Contribution by persons on parole
§ 53.1-151. Eligibility for parole
§ 53.1-152. Eligibility of persons sentenced for combinations of felony and misdemeanor offenses
§ 53.1-153. Eligibility of persons sentenced to jails for more than twelve months
§ 53.1-154. Times at which Virginia Parole Board to review cases
§ 53.1-154.1. Authority of Director to recommend parole review; release upon review
§ 53.1-155. Investigation prior to release; transition assistance
§ 53.1-155.1. Participation in residential community program prior to final release
§ 53.1-156. Period of parole; not counted as part of term
§ 53.1-158. Release of prisoner subject to parole
§ 53.1-159. Mandatory release on parole
§ 53.1-160. Notice to be given upon prisoner release, escape, etc.
§ 53.1-163. Parolee considered as escapee after issuance of warrant
§ 53.1-164. Procedure for return of parolee or felon serving a period of postrelease supervision
§ 53.1-165.1. Limitation on the application of parole statutes
§ 53.1-166. Governor to execute compact
§ 53.1-169. Who may hold hearings; procedures therefor
§ 53.1-170. Rights of parolee or probationer at hearing
§ 53.1-173. Preliminary hearings for out-of-state parolees in Virginia
§ 53.1-174. Preliminary hearings by other states
§ 53.1-175. Revocation of parole by Virginia
§ 53.1-176. Revocation of parole by other states
§ 53.1-176.1. Enactment of the Interstate Compact for the Supervision of Adult Offenders
§ 53.1-176.2. Short title; Governor to execute; form of compact
§ 53.1-176.3. Virginia State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision