2006 Code of Virginia § 9.1-173 - Purpose

9.1-173. Purpose.

It is the purpose of this article to enable any city, county or combinationthereof to develop, establish and maintain local community-based probationprograms to provide the judicial system with sentencing alternatives forcertain misdemeanants or persons convicted of felonies that are not felonyacts of violence, as defined in 19.2-297.1 and sentenced pursuant to 19.2-303.3, for whom the court imposes a sentence of twelve months or lessand who may require less than institutional custody.

The article shall be interpreted and construed so as to:

1. Allow individual cities, counties, or combinations thereof greaterflexibility and involvement in responding to the problem of crime in theircommunities;

2. Provide more effective protection of society and to promote efficiency andeconomy in the delivery of correctional services;

3. Provide increased opportunities for offenders to make restitution tovictims of crimes through financial reimbursement or community service;

4. Permit cities, counties or combinations thereof to operate and utilizelocal community-based probation programs and services specifically designedto meet the rehabilitative needs of selected offenders; and

5. Provide appropriate post-sentencing alternatives in localities for certainoffenders with the goal of reducing the incidence of repeat offenders.

(1980 c. 300, 53.1-180; 1982, c. 636; 1983, c. 344; 1990, c. 578; 1992, c.196; 1994, 2nd Sp. Sess., cc. 1, 2; 1995, cc. 502, 574; 1996, c. 568; 2000,c. 1040; 2001, c. 844; 2002, c. 491.)