Senate Joint Resolution No. 42 of the 1980 Acts of Assembly directed the Virginia Code Commission to make a careful study of Title 53 and report its findings to the Governor and General Assembly in the form of a recodification of that title. Reasons given for the recodification were that Title 53 has not been generally revised since 1970 and that the many changes in the administration of correctional and parole services in the Commonwealth during the past decade substantially affected the organization of Title 53.

In accordance with the mandate of SJ.R. 42, the Code Commission has conducted a comprehensive study of the laws of Virginia concerning corrections, both in Title 53 and related sections in other titles. The result is a recodification of Title 53 into a new Title 53.1, comprised of 14 chapters and 260 sections, and amendments to sections in Titles 2.1, 16.l, 18.2, 19.2 and 58. The Commission has rewritten and combined sections or parts of sections so as to eliminate archaic or redundant language and out-dated provisions. The revisor's notes following most sections in proposed Title 53.1 explain the changes made in each section compared to the equivalent section in Title 53. Tables follow this text which cross-reference the sections of Title 53 and proposed Title 53.1.

During the course of its deliberations, the Commission held one public hearing and numerous open working sessions attended by representatives of governmental agencies and other groups interested in the field of corrections. The members of the Commission wish to thank all those who gave so much time and effort to assist the Commission in this undertaking. The Virginia Code Commission recommends that the General Assembly of Virginia enact the attached bill at the 1982 Session.