Virginia HB 318: Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties, juvenile offenders, parole procedures and considerations.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26104539D

HOUSE BILL NO. 318

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 10, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3707.02, 53.1-134, 53.1-136, 53.1-154, 53.1-155, and 53.1-165.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 53.1-154.2, relating to Virginia Parole Board; powers and duties; juvenile offenders; parole procedures and considerations.

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Patrons—Hope, Williams, Maldonado, Rasoul and Seibold

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Referred to Committee on General Laws

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 2.2-3707.02, 53.1-134, 53.1-136, 53.1-154, 53.1-155, and 53.1-165.1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 53.1-154.2 as follows:

§ 2.2-3707.02. Meetings of Virginia Parole Board.

Except for a public meeting convened pursuant to subdivision 10 of § 53.1-136 for conducting the final deliberation and vote regarding whether or not the Virginia Parole Board will grant parole to a prisoner, a meeting of the Virginia Parole Board members, regardless of whether such members invite staff or other guests to participate in such meeting, shall not be deemed a meeting subject to the provisions of this chapter.

§ 53.1-134. Virginia Parole Board; appointment of members.

A. There shall be a Virginia Parole Board (the Board) that shall consist of up to five at least 10 members, five of whom shall be appointed by the Governor and within 60 days of inauguration, three of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates within 60 days after a new House is sworn in after an election, and two of whom shall be appointed by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules within 60 days after a new Senate is sworn in after an election, and all of whom shall be subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, if in session when such appointment is made, and if not in session, then at its next succeeding session. At least one member of the Board shall be a representative of a crime victims' organization or a victim of crime as defined in subsection B of § 19.2-11.01. All members of the Board shall have significant professional experience working in criminal law, corrections, reentry and community services, or victim services.

B. The Board members appointed by the Governor shall include (i) an attorney with significant experience in criminal prosecution; (ii) an attorney with significant experience in criminal defense; (iii) a qualified mental health professional with relevant background in adolescent development, trauma responses, psychology, and decision-making; and (iv) a representative of a crime victims organization or a victim of crime as defined in subsection B of § 19.2-11.01. 

C. The term of each member of the Board shall be four years. When a vacancy on the Board occurs, the Governor appropriate appointing authority shall appoint a member to fill such complete the term of the vacancy within 60 days.

The members of the Board shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

§ 53.1-136. Powers and duties of Board; notice of release of certain inmates; report.

In addition to the other powers and duties imposed upon the Board by this article, the Board shall:

1. Adopt, subject to approval by the Governor, general rules governing the granting of parole and eligibility requirements, which shall be published and posted for public review. Such eligibility rules shall require consideration of the prisoner's demonstrated rehabilitation, economic and educational development, commitment to prosocial behavior, and community and family supports;

2. Adopt, subject to approval by the Governor, rules providing for the granting of parole to those prisoners who are eligible for parole pursuant to § 53.1-165.1. The Board shall ensure that such prisoners have a meaningful opportunity for release on the basis of demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation and the lesser culpability of juvenile offenders;

3. a. Release on parole for such time and upon such terms and conditions as the Board shall prescribe, persons convicted of felonies and confined under the laws of the Commonwealth in any correctional facility in Virginia when those persons become eligible and are found suitable for parole, according to those rules adopted pursuant to subdivisions 1 and 2;

b. Notify the Department of Corrections of its decision to grant discretionary parole or conditional release to an inmate. The Department of Corrections shall set the release date for such inmate no sooner than 30 business days from the date that the Department of Corrections receives such notification from the Chairman of the Board, except that the Department of Corrections may set an earlier release date in the case of an inmate granted conditional release pursuant to § 53.1-40.02. In the case of an inmate granted parole who was convicted of a felony and sentenced to a term of 10 or more years, or an inmate g