HB 279 Virginia House of Delegates · 2020 Regular Session

Sentencing proceeding by the jury after conviction; recommendation of leniency.

Summary
Sentencing proceeding by the jury after conviction; recommendation of leniency. Provides that a jury may, in ascertainingthe punishment for a person convicted of a felony or Class 1 misdemeanor,recommend that the sentence imposed be suspended in whole or in part,or that sentences imposed for multiple offenses be served concurrently,except where such suspension of sentence or concurrent service is prohibited by law. The bill prohibits the trial court from imposingan active term of incarceration in excess of the active term of incarcerationrecommended by the jury. The bill also allows the jury to recommendthat the defendant be placed on probation, make full or partial restitution,perform community service, or receive mental health or substanceabuse treatment in lieu of incarceration or as a condition of anysuspended sentence, and requires the court to follow such recommendationunless good cause is shown for why the recommendation is inappropriateor unavailable.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2019
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Dec 30, 2019 Last action Feb 11, 2020
Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Jan 22, 2020
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 17, 2020
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
lower
Dec 30, 2019
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Dec 30, 2019
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20101181D
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors