CHAPTER 360

An Act to amend and reenact § 20-61, as amended, of the Code of Virginia,
relating to desertion and nonsupport of wife and children and punish-
ment therefor. S289}

Approved April 1, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 20-61, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows: , :

§ 20-61. Any husband who without cause deserts or wilfully neglects
or refuses or fails to provide for the support and maintenance of his wife,
and any parent who deserts or wilfully neglects or refuses or fails to
provide for the support and maintenance of his or her child under the age
of seventeen years, or child of whatever age who is crippled or otherwise
incapacitated for earning a living, the wife, child or children being then
and there in necessitous circumstances, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding five hundred
dollars, or confinement in jail not exceeding six month, or both, or in the
case of a husband or father by confinement on the State convict road force
at hard labor for a period of not less than ninety days nor more than
twelve months * ; or in lieu of the fine or confinement being imposed upon
conviction by the court or by verdict of a jury he or she may be required
by the court to suffer a forfeiture of an amount not exceeding the sum
of one thousand dollars and the fine or forfeiture may be directed by the
court to be paid in whole or in part to the wife or to the guardian, curator,
custodian or trustee of the minor child or children, or to some discreet
person or responsible organization designated by the court to receive it.