{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/53.1-35.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/53.1-35.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/53.1-35.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/53.1-35.1.html"}],"law_id":367738,"edition_id":2,"section_id":367738,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35.1","catch_line":"Electronic visitation and messaging with inmates","history":"2018, c. 66; 2024, c. 455.","full_text":"The Director is authorized to prescribe reasonable rules regarding electronic visitation systems or electronic messaging systems, including Voice-over-Internet Protocol technology and web-based communication systems, for communication between prisoners and third parties and collection of a fee for the system utilized. Any state correctional facility that utilizes such systems shall establish such systems using the lowest available rates. Any state correctional facility that utilizes such systems shall establish such system allowing for the security needs of the facility. Any state correctional facility that utilizes such system (i) shall not prohibit in-person visitation and (ii) shall not receive any commission for installation or operation of the system. The Department may temporarily limit the use of this system during periods of heightened security or emergencies.\n\nThis section does not apply to telephonic communication systems or to electronic video and audio communication systems used in judicial proceedings.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1368867,"text":"The Director is authorized to prescribe reasonable rules regarding electronic visitation systems or electronic messaging systems, including Voice-over-Internet Protocol technology and web-based communication systems, for communication between prisoners and third parties and collection of a fee for the system utilized. Any state correctional facility that utilizes such systems shall establish such systems using the lowest available rates. Any state correctional facility that utilizes such systems shall establish such system allowing for the security needs of the facility. Any state correctional facility that utilizes such system (i) shall not prohibit in-person visitation and (ii) shall not receive any commission for installation or operation of the system. The Department may temporarily limit the use of this system during periods of heightened security or emergencies.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1368868,"text":"This section does not apply to telephonic communication systems or to electronic video and audio communication systems used in judicial proceedings.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":52421,"edition_id":2,"name":"Treatment and Privileges of Prisoners","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52400,"metadata":{"child_laws":20,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:35","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:45","permalink":{"id":1464955,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52421,"identifier":"2","token":"53.1\/2\/2","url":"\/53.1\/2\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52400,"edition_id":2,"name":"State Correctional Facilities","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52379,"metadata":{"child_laws":99,"child_structures":11},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:45","permalink":{"id":1464863,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52400,"identifier":"2","token":"53.1\/2","url":"\/53.1\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52379,"edition_id":2,"name":"Prisons and Other Methods of Correction","identifier":"53.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":117,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":402,"child_structures":56},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:08","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:44","permalink":{"id":1464593,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52379,"identifier":"53.1","token":"53.1","url":"\/53.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":367734,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32","catch_line":"Treatment and control of prisoners; recreation; religious services","url":"\/53.1-32\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32","metadata":false},{"id":367731,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32.01","catch_line":"Payment for bodily injury","url":"\/53.1-32.01\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32.01","metadata":false},{"id":367732,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32.1","catch_line":"Classification system; program assignments; mandatory participation","url":"\/53.1-32.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32.1","metadata":false},{"id":367733,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-32.2","catch_line":"Reentry planning","url":"\/53.1-32.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-32.2","metadata":false},{"id":367736,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-33","catch_line":"Physical examination of prisoner; ability to work","url":"\/53.1-33\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-33","metadata":false},{"id":367735,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-33.1","catch_line":"Mandatory testing for human immunodeficiency virus","url":"\/53.1-33.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-33.1","metadata":false},{"id":367737,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-34","catch_line":"Treatment of prisoner with contagious disease","url":"\/53.1-34\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-34","metadata":false},{"id":367740,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35","catch_line":"Correspondence privileges; receipt of publications","url":"\/53.1-35\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35","metadata":false},{"id":367738,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35.1","catch_line":"Electronic visitation and messaging with inmates","url":"\/53.1-35.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.1","metadata":false},{"id":367739,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35.2","catch_line":"Visitation of certain prisoners by minor dependents","url":"\/53.1-35.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.2","metadata":false},{"id":367741,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-36","catch_line":"Prisoners may assist in medical research programs","url":"\/53.1-36\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-36","metadata":false},{"id":367742,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-37","catch_line":"Furloughs generally; travel expenses; penalties for violations","url":"\/53.1-37\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-37","metadata":false},{"id":367743,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-38","catch_line":"When ineligible for furloughs","url":"\/53.1-38\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-38","metadata":false},{"id":367747,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39","catch_line":"Certain punishment of prisoners prohibited","url":"\/53.1-39\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39","metadata":false},{"id":367744,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.1","catch_line":"Restrictive housing; data collection and reporting; report","url":"\/53.1-39.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.1","metadata":false},{"id":367745,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.2","catch_line":"Restorative housing; restrictions on use","url":"\/53.1-39.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.2","metadata":false},{"id":367746,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-39.3","catch_line":"Use of canines in state correctional facilities; prohibited acts; policies and regulations made public; incidents of use of canines reported; exception","url":"\/53.1-39.3\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-39.3","metadata":false},{"id":367767,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-40","catch_line":"Appointment of counsel for indigent prisoners","url":"\/53.1-40\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-40","metadata":false},{"id":367749,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-40.01","catch_line":"Conditional release of geriatric prisoners","url":"\/53.1-40.01\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-40.01","metadata":false},{"id":367750,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-40.02","catch_line":"Conditional release of terminally ill prisoners","url":"\/53.1-40.02\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-40.02","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":367740,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35","catch_line":"Correspondence privileges; receipt of publications","url":"\/53.1-35\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":367739,"structure_id":52421,"section_number":"53.1-35.2","catch_line":"Visitation of certain prisoners by minor dependents","url":"\/53.1-35.2\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/53.1-35.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2018. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 66<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2024, chapter 455<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1464989,"object_type":"law","relational_id":367738,"identifier":"53.1-35.1","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.1","url":"\/53.1-35.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/53.1-35.1\/","token":"53.1\/2\/2\/53.1-35.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Electronic visitation and messaging with inmates","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 53.1-35.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Director<\/span> is authorized to prescribe reasonable rules regarding electronic visitation systems or electronic messaging systems, including Voice-over-Internet Protocol technology and web-based communication systems, for communication between prisoners and third parties and collection of a fee for the system utilized. Any state correctional facility<\/span> that utilizes such systems shall establish such systems using the lowest available rates. Any state correctional facility<\/span> that utilizes such systems shall establish such system allowing for the security needs of the facility. Any state correctional facility<\/span> that utilizes such system (i) shall not prohibit in-person visitation and (ii) shall not receive any commission for installation or operation of the system. The Department<\/span> may temporarily limit the use of this system during periods of heightened security or emergencies.<\/p>

This section does not apply to telephonic communication systems or to electronic video and audio communication systems used in judicial proceedings.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nELECTRONIC VISITATION AND MESSAGING WITH INMATES (\u00a7 53.1-35.1)\n\nThe Director is authorized to prescribe reasonable rules regarding electronic\nvisitation systems or electronic messaging systems, including\nVoice-over-Internet Protocol technology and web-based communication systems, for\ncommunication between prisoners and third parties and collection of a fee for\nthe system utilized. Any state correctional facility that utilizes such systems\nshall establish such systems using the lowest available rates. Any state\ncorrectional facility that utilizes such systems shall establish such system\nallowing for the security needs of the facility. Any state correctional facility\nthat utilizes such system (i) shall not prohibit in-person visitation and (ii)\nshall not receive any commission for installation or operation of the system.\nThe Department may temporarily limit the use of this system during periods of\nheightened security or emergencies.\n\nThis section does not apply to telephonic communication systems or to electronic\nvideo and audio communication systems used in judicial proceedings.\n\nHISTORY: 2018, c. 66; 2024, c. 455.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}