CHAP. 297.—An ACT to provide when a person convicted of a misde-
meanor may be sentenced to the State convict road force.

(H. B. 372.)
Approved March 18, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
whenever a person is convicted of any misdemeanor, for which
a jail sentence may be imposed, either a flat time or a sentence
to serve in default of payment of fine or in default of surety,
the judge or justice before whom such a case is tried, may, in
his discretion, in lieu of committing said person to jail, sentence
him to a like period on the public roads, for a period of time
equal to the term of confinement in the jail so fixed; and that he
be delivered into the custody of the superintendent of the peni-
tentiary, to be kept by him as a member’ of the State convict
road force, in accordance with law and subject to work on the
public roads.