Criminal Sentencing Commission, Virginia

Purpose

The Virginia Sentencing Commission shall develop discretionary sentencing guidelines to achieve the goals of certainty, consistency, and adequacy of punishment with due regard to the seriousness of the offense, the dangerousness of the offender, deterrence of individuals from committing criminal offenses and the use of alternative sanctions, where appropriate.

Term

Except for legislative members and gubernatorial appointments, appointments to the Commission made on and after January 1, 2001, shall be for terms of four years. Legislative members shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office.

Composition

The Commission shall be composed of seventeen members as follows: six judges or justices, who may be judges of a circuit court who regularly hear criminal cases or judges or justices of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals, to be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia; one person who is not an active member of the judiciary, to be appointed as Chairman by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia for a term of four years subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The Chairman shall designate a vice-chairman from among the other members to serve a term commensurate with that of the Chairman; the Chairman of the House Committee for Courts of Justice or his designee who shall be a member of the committee and two persons to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; the Chairman of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice or his designee who shall be a member of the committee and one person to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; four persons to be appointed by the Governor, at least one of whom shall be a representative of a crime victims' organization or a victim of crime as defined in subsection B of § 19.2-11.01; and the Attorney General of Virginia or his designee for a term commensurate with his term of office. All members shall be citizens of the Commonwealth.

Vacant Seats

No vacant seats available...

Current Board Members

Member:Judge Robert J. Humphreys
Seat: Member of the General Public
End Date:12/31/2026
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Member:Mrs. Bethany Harrison
Seat: Member of the General Public
End Date:12/31/2026
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Member:Nancy G. Parr
Seat: Member of the General Public
End Date:12/31/2028
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Member:Mindy Applewhite
Seat: Crime Victim or Organization
End Date:12/31/2029
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