Chap. 542.—An ACT to amend and reenact Section 4548-g of the Code of Virginia
relating to commitment of certain misdemeanants and to powers of the State
Board of Public Welfare. [S 219]

Approved April 6, 1948

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That section forty-five hundred forty-eight-g of the Code of
Virginia be amended and reenacted as follows:

Section 4548-g. Any female convicted, by any court or justice in
this State, of prostitution or being a keeper or inmate, or frequenter of a
house of ill-fame, prostitution or assignation, or for soliciting for immoral
purposes, of associating with or consorting with persons of ill repute, of
vagrancy, of contributory delinquency or neglect or dependency, may,
in lieu of the jail sentences or fines provided for such offenses be com-
mitted to the control and supervision and direction of the State Board
of Public Welfare for an indeterminate period of not less than three
months nor more than three years, and said board may recommit such
females to a State institution or to such other institutions as may be
approved by it as being suitable for the proper care of such females,
and as being equipped to give medical treatment to such of them as may
be diseased, and industrial training to such of them as may be in need
thereof. The board is authorized to make a careful physical, mental and
social examination or study of every such female, and to investigate the
personal and family history in order that plans for their training, rehab-
ilitation, release, supervision and revocation may be adequately under-
taken. If, however, the State Board of Public Welfare finds it not
possible or expedient to place such females in the institutions named
above, the said board is hereby authorized to commit them to jail, or,
in their discretion, to place said females on probation. After the expiration
of the minimum sentence of any such female, the State Board of Public
Welfare may at any time order the release of such female when satisfied
that such release is conducive to the welfare of such female and will
not be detrimental to the Commonwealth, and may prescribe reasonable
terms or conditions upon which such release is granted. If any female
so released violates the terms or conditions of her release, the State
Board of Public Welfare may revoke the order of release and direct
her apprehension and detention by the proper law enforcement officers
and her release to the said board, and said board may recommit such
female to an institution or make such other disposition as is deemed
advisable. Provided, however, that in no case shall the total period of
probation, confinement, supervision and reconfinement exceed three
years. All such institutions, except State institutions, shall receive from
the State the same fees as are allowed by law to jailers.