Bill Text: VA HB2038 | 2021 | 1st Special Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Probation, revocation, and suspension of sentence; limitations on sentence, technical violation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-04-07 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0538) [HB2038 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-HB2038-Chaptered.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§19.2-303, 19.2-303.1, and 19.2-306 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 19.2-306.1 as follows:
§19.2-303. Suspension or modification of sentence; probation; taking of fingerprints and blood, saliva, or tissue sample as condition of probation.
After conviction, whether with or without jury, the court may suspend imposition of sentence or suspend the sentence in whole or part and in addition may place the defendant on probation under such conditions as the court shall determine, including monitoring by a GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking device, or other similar device, or may, as a condition of a suspended sentence, require the defendant to make at least partial restitution to the aggrieved party or parties for damages or loss caused by the offense for which convicted, or to perform community service, or both, under terms and conditions which shall be entered in writing by the court. The court may fix the period of probation for up to the statutory maximum period for which the defendant might originally have been sentenced to be imprisoned. Any period of supervised probation shall not exceed five years from the release of the defendant from any active period of incarceration. The limitation on the period of probation shall not apply to the extent that an additional period of probation is necessary (i) for the defendant to participate in a court-ordered program or (ii) if a defendant owes restitution and is still subject to restitution compliance review hearings in accordance with §19.2-305.1. The defendant may be ordered by the court to pay the cost of the GPS tracking device or other similar device. If, however, the court suspends or modifies any sentence fixed by a jury pursuant to §19.2-295, the court shall file a statement of the reasons for the suspension or modification in the same manner as the statement required pursuant to subsection B of §19.2-298.01. The judge, after convicting the defendant of any offense for which a report to the Central Criminal Records Exchange is required in accordance with subsection A of § 19.2-390, shall determine whether a copy of the defendant's fingerprints or fingerprint identification information has been provided by a law-enforcement officer to the clerk of court for each such offense. In any case where fingerprints or fingerprint identification information has not been provided by a law-enforcement officer to the clerk of court, the judge shall require that fingerprints and a photograph be taken by a law-enforcement officer as a condition of probation or of the suspension of the imposition or execution of any sentence for such offense. Such fingerprints shall be submitted to the Central Criminal Records Exchange under the provisions of subsection D of § 19.2-390.
In those courts having electronic access to the Local Inmate Data System (LIDS) within the courtroom, prior to or upon sentencing, the clerk of court shall also determine by reviewing LIDS whether a blood, saliva, or tissue sample has been taken for DNA analysis and submitted to the DNA data bank maintained by the Department of Forensic Science pursuant to Article 1.1 (§19.2-310.2 et seq.) of Chapter 18 of this title. In any case in which the clerk has determined that a DNA sample or analysis is not stored in the DNA data bank, or in any case in which electronic access to LIDS is not available in the courtroom, the court shall order that the defendant appear within 30 days before the sheriff or probation officer and allow the sheriff or probation officer to take the required sample. The order shall also require that, if the defendant has not appeared and allowed the sheriff or probation officer to take the required sample by the date stated in the order, then the sheriff or probation officer shall report to the court the defendant's failure to appear and provide the required sample.
After conviction and upon sentencing of an active participant or member of a criminal street gang, the court may, as a condition for suspending the imposition of the sentence in whole or in part or for placing the accused on probation, place reasonable restrictions on those persons with whom the accused may have contact. Such restrictions may include prohibiting the accused from having contact with anyone whom he knows to be a member of a criminal street gang, except that contact with a family or household member, as defined in §16.1-228, shall be permitted unless expressly prohibited by the court.
In Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any
case where a defendant is convicted of a violation of §18.2-48, 18.2-61,
18.2-63, 18.2-67.1, 18.2-67.2, 18.2-67.3, 18.2-370, or 18.2-370.1, committed on
or after July 1, 2006, and some portion of the sentence is suspended, the judge
shall order that the period of suspension shall be for a length of time at
least equal to the statutory maximum period for which the defendant might
originally have been sentenced to be imprisoned, and the defendant shall be
placed on probation for that period of suspension subject to revocation by the
court. The conditions of probation may include such conditions as the court
shall determine, including active supervision. Where the conviction is for a
violation of clause (iii) of subsection A of §18.2-61, subdivision A 1 of §
18.2-67.1, or subdivision A 1 of §18.2-67.2, the court shall order that at
least three years of the probation include active supervision of the defendant
under a postrelease supervision program operated by the Department of
Corrections, and for at least three years of such active supervision, the
defendant shall be subject to electronic monitoring by means of a GPS (Global
Positioning System) tracking device, or other similar device.
If a person is sentenced to jail upon conviction of a
misdemeanor or a felony, the court may, at any time before the sentence has
been completely served, suspend the unserved portion of any such sentence,
place the person on probation for such time as the court shall determine
in accordance with the provisions of this section, or otherwise modify the
sentence imposed.
If a person has been sentenced for a felony to the Department
of Corrections but has not actually been transferred to a receiving unit of the
Department, the court which heard the case, if it appears compatible with the
public interest and there are circumstances in mitigation of the offense, may,
at any time before the person is transferred to the Department, suspend or
otherwise modify the unserved portion of such a sentence. The court may place
the person on probation for such time as the court shall determine in
accordance with the provisions of this section.
§19.2-303.1. Fixing period of suspension of sentence.
In any case where a court suspends the imposition or execution
of a sentence, it may fix the period of suspension for a reasonable time,
having due regard to the gravity of the offense, without regard up
to the statutory maximum period for which the defendant might
originally have been sentenced to be imprisoned. The limitation
on the period of suspension shall not apply to the extent that an additional
period of suspension is necessary for the defendant to participate in a
court-ordered program.
§19.2-306. Revocation of suspension of sentence and probation.
A. In any case in which the court has suspended the execution or imposition of sentence, the court may revoke the suspension of sentence for any cause the court deems sufficient that occurred at any time within the probation period, or within the period of suspension fixed by the court. If neither a probation period nor a period of suspension was fixed by the court, then the court may revoke the suspension for any cause the court deems sufficient that occurred within the maximum period for which the defendant might originally have been sentenced to be imprisoned.
B. The court may not conduct a hearing to revoke the
suspension of sentence unless the court issues process to notify the accused or
to compel his appearance before the court within 90 days of receiving notice
of the alleged violation or within one year after the expiration of the
period of probation or the period of suspension, whichever is sooner,
or, in the case of a failure to pay restitution, within three years after such
expiration. If neither a probation period nor a period of suspension was fixed
by the court, then the court shall issue process within one year six
months after the expiration of the maximum period for which the defendant
might originally have been sentenced to be incarcerated. Such notice and
service of process may be waived by the defendant, in which case the court may
proceed to determine whether the defendant has violated the conditions of
suspension.
C. If the court, after hearing, finds good cause to believe
that the defendant has violated the terms of suspension, then: (i) if the
court originally suspended the imposition of sentence, the court shall revoke
the suspension, and the court may pronounce whatever sentence might have
been originally imposed or (ii) if the court originally suspended the execution
of the sentence, the court shall revoke the suspension and the original
sentence shall be in full force and effect revoke the suspension and
impose a sentence in accordance with the provisions of §19.2-306.1. The
court may again suspend all or any part of this sentence for a period up to
the statutory maximum period for which the defendant might originally have been
sentenced to be imprisoned, less any time already served, and may place the
defendant upon terms and conditions or probation. The court shall measure the
period of any suspension of sentence from the date of the entry of the original
sentencing order. However, if a court finds that a defendant has absconded from
the jurisdiction of the court, the court may extend the period of probation or
suspended sentence for a period not to exceed the length of time that such
defendant absconded.
D. If any court has, after hearing, found no cause to impose a sentence that might have been originally imposed, or to revoke a suspended sentence or probation, then any further hearing to impose a sentence or revoke a suspended sentence or probation, based solely on the alleged violation for which the hearing was held, shall be barred.
E. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to deprive any person of his right to appeal in the manner provided by law to the circuit court having criminal jurisdiction from a judgment or order revoking any suspended sentence.
§19.2-306.1. Limitation on sentence upon revocation of suspension of sentence; exceptions.
A. For the purposes of this section, "technical violation" means a violation based on the probationer's failure to (i) report any arrest, including traffic tickets, within three days to the probation officer; (ii) maintain regular employment or notify the probation officer of any changes in employment; (iii) report within three days of release from incarceration; (iv) permit the probation officer to visit his home and place of employment; (v) follow the instructions of the probation officer, be truthful and cooperative, and report as instructed; (vi) refrain from the use of alcoholic beverages to the extent that it disrupts or interferes with his employment or orderly conduct; (vii) refrain from the use, possession, or distribution of controlled substances or related paraphernalia; (viii) refrain from the use, ownership, possession, or transportation of a firearm; (ix) gain permission to change his residence or remain in the Commonwealth or other designated area without permission of the probation officer; or (x) maintain contact with the probation officer whereby his whereabouts are no longer known to the probation officer. Multiple technical violations arising from a single course of conduct or a single incident or considered at the same revocation hearing shall not be considered separate technical violations for the purposes of sentencing pursuant to this section.
B. If the court finds the basis of a violation of the terms and conditions of a suspended sentence or probation is that the defendant was convicted of a criminal offense that was committed after the date of the suspension, or has violated another condition other than (i) a technical violation or (ii) a good conduct violation that did not result in a criminal conviction, then the court may revoke the suspension and impose or resuspend any or all of that period previously suspended.
C. The court shall not impose a sentence of a term of active incarceration upon a first technical violation of the terms and conditions of a suspended sentence or probation, and there shall be a presumption against imposing a sentence of a term of active incarceration for any second technical violation of the terms and conditions of a suspended sentence or probation. However, if the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant committed a second technical violation and he cannot be safely diverted from active incarceration through less restrictive means, the court may impose not more than 14 days of active incarceration for a second technical violation. The court may impose whatever sentence might have been originally imposed for a third or subsequent technical violation. For the purposes of this subsection, a first technical violation based on clause (viii) or (x) of subsection A shall be considered a second technical violation, and any subsequent technical violation also based on clause (viii) or (x) of subsection A shall be considered a third or subsequent technical violation.
D. The limitations on sentencing in this section shall not apply to the extent that an additional term of incarceration is necessary to allow a defendant to be evaluated for or to participate in a court-ordered drug, alcohol, or mental health treatment program. In such case, the court shall order the shortest term of incarceration possible to achieve the required evaluation or participation.