Chap. 59.—An ACT to permit persons charged with crime and unable to fur-
nish a bail bond or not let to bail, with the consent of the Commonwealth’s
atorney, to work in chain gangs or in the State convict road force, and
allowing such persons credit therefor on any sentence thereafter imposed
for such crime of which he is charged; and in case of acquittal, allowing
him pay for his labor.

Approved February 27, 1906. ,

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That a person
charged with crime who is refused bail or is unable to furnish a bail bond
with satisfactory sureiies according to law may, instead of being com-
mitted to jail, elect to labor in a chain-gang, or in the State convict road
force; and in such case the court or justice committing him, or the sheriff
or sergeant of the jail to which he has been committed, if such election
is made known after commitment, shall deliver such person to the proper
officer of a chain-gang designated by the attorney for the Commonwealth
of the county or city in the jail of which such person would be or is con-
fined, or tothe guard of the penitentiary when such prisoner is to be held to
labor in the State convict road force: provided, that before any such person
is delivered to a chain-gang or the State convict road force the attorney
of the Commonwealth for the county or city in which such person is held
charged with crime shall signify, in writing, his consent thereto, which
writing shall be lodged with the clerk of his court, and such attorney for
the Commonwealth shall not signify his consent unless he is satisfied that
such person would be acceptable to.the superintendent of the penitentiary
as a member of the State convict road force, or is acceptable to the super-
intendent or other chief officer of a chain-gang. Such attorney for the
Commonwealth shall designate the chain-gang or State convict road force
to which such person is to be delivered. The superintendent of the peni-
tentiary, if he is in the State convict road force, and the superintendent
or other chief officer of the chain-gang, if he is in a chain-gang, shall
cause such person to be delivered to the court having jurisdiction of his
trial in due time for his trial. If a member of the State convict road
force, the guarding and traveling expenses of said person to and from the
point at which he is held to labor shall be done and paid for as is now pro-
vided by law for the guarding and transportation of prisoners from jails
to the penitentiary. If at his trial such prisoner is convicted and sen-
tenced to imprisonment in jail or the penitentiary, or sentenced to the
roads, he shall be credited on his term by the number of days he has lab-
ored in a chain-gang or the State convict road force. If fined, he shall be
credited on the amount of his fine and costs with fifty cents for each
day he labored in a chain-gang or in the State convict road force; and if
acquitted, he shall be paid fifty cents for each day he labored in a chain-
gang or in the State convict road force, to be paid by the county or city
having the benefit of his labor if in a chain-gang, and to be paid bv the
State if he labored in the State convict road force, to be collected as fees
due Commonwealth’s witnesses in criminal cases are collected.