CHAPTER 638

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 58-280, 58-234, 53-288, 58-248, 53-245,
53-251.1 and 58-252 of the Code of Virginia, relating to probation and

parole.
(S 241]
Approved April 6, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

. That §§ 53-230, 53-234, 53-238, 53-243, 53-245, 53-251.1 and 53-252
of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 53-230. The Virginia Parole Board is continued but it shall here-
after function as a part of the Department of Welfare and Institutions
and shall be known as the Virginia Probation and Parole Board.

§ 53-234. The Governor shall designate one of the members so ap-
pointed as Director of Probation and Parole. Of the members first ap-
pointed, the one appointed for the term of six years shall be so designated.
The Director of Probation and Parole * shall serve as chairman of the *
Board. Whenever the word “Director” is used in this article it shall mean
the Director of Probation and Parole except when the Director of the
Department of Welfare and Institutions is expressly referred to, and when-
ever the word “Board” is used in this article it shall mean the Virginia
Probation and Parole Board.

53-238. In addition to other functions, powers and duties con-
ferred and imposed upon the * Board by this article, the * Board shall,
subject to other provisions of this chapter:

(1) Adopt rules——Adopt, subject to approval by the Governor
general rules governing the granting of parole and the investigation, con-
duct and supervision of persons placed upon parole;
(2) Release on parole-——Release on parole, subject to the general
rules adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) of this section, 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 penal institution in the Commonwealth when such persons become
eligible, and are found suitable, for parole;

Revocation of parole.—Revoke parole and order the reincarce-
ration of any person on parole when in the judgment of the Board the
parolee has violated the conditions of his parole or is otherwise unfit further
to be at liberty upon parole;

(4) Issue final discharges.—Issue final discharges to persons released
by the * Board on parole when the * Board is of the opinion that such per-
sons are reliable and trustworthy and will remain at liberty without
violating the law and that the discharge of such person will not be incom-
patible with the welfare of such person or of society.

§ 58-243. There shall be at least one probation and parole officer for
each parole district. The Board may temporarily assign officers appointed
in a district to duties in another district, subject to the consent of the ap-
pointing judge or judges, in which event any such officer shall have the
same power and authority as an officer appointed by the judge or judges
of the court or courts of such other district.

§ 53-245. Each probation and parole officer shall be appointed
initially for a term of four years, unless the appointment be to fill a vacancy,
in which case the appointment shall be for the unexpired term. Subsequent
appointments shall be for indefinite periods. Any such officer may be sus-
pended or removed at the pleasure of the judge or judges having the
appointing power, and may be suspended for cause by the Probation and
Parole Board, with the subsequent consent of appointing judge or judges,
for a period not exceeding thirty days.

§ 53-251.1 Every person convicted of a felony and also convicted of
a misdemeanor and sentenced and committed for the same under the laws
of this Commonwealth or of its political subdivisions shall be eligible for
parole on the combination of said sentences in the same manner as provided
in § 53-251. *

§ 53-252. The Probation and Parole Board shall review the case of
each prisoner as he becomes eligible for parole and at least annually there-
after until he is released on parole or otherwise. The * Board may in addi-
tion thereto review the case of any prisoner eligible for parole at any other
time when it is of the opinion that such should be done.