Virginia good time and sentence credit rules
Virginia earned sentence credits are capped at 4.5 days per 30 served for violent and other listed offenses. Other offenses use a four-level system that tops out at 15 days per 30.[1]
Sources last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:23 AM MT. This explains current law. It does not calculate anyone's date.
Credit types and rates
- Listed offenses (Class 1 felonies, murder solicitation, kidnapping, robbery and carjacking, criminal sexual assault, and others in §53.1-202.3(A)): up to 4.5 days per 30 served.[1]
- All other offenses use four levels. Level I: 15 days per 30 (full program participation, no more than one minor infraction, no serious infractions). Level II: 7.5 days per 30. Levels III and IV earn less.[1]
Exclusions and limits
- Second or later convictions for certain offenses (§53.1-202.3(A)(17)) are also limited to 4.5 days.[1]
Parole eligibility vs. discharge
- Virginia abolished discretionary parole for felonies on or after Jan 1, 1995. Earned sentence credits are how release dates move. See our Virginia page for HB 361 (pretrial time counts toward credit from July 1, 2028).
How to find a release date
- Search the official VADOC Inmate Locator by name or ID number.
- Look for the projected release, parole eligibility, or discharge date. The DOC record already includes credits it has awarded.
- For questions, contact the facility records office. Only DOC can correct a date.
New laws and bills
Enacted HB 361 counts pretrial/appeal time toward earned sentence credit; effective July 1, 2028. (tracker checked Oct 16, 2026)
50-state tracker · Virginia action kit · Our Virginia law guide
FAQ
How many sentence credits can you earn in Virginia?
Up to 15 days per 30 served at Level I for non-listed offenses, or 4.5 days per 30 for listed violent offenses (Va. Code §53.1-202.3).
Does Virginia have parole?
Not for felonies committed on or after Jan 1, 1995.
What this site can't do
| Issue | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Discipline and lost credits | We cannot see write-ups, forfeitures or restored credits. Only the facility record shows them. |
| Detainers and holds | Warrants, immigration holds or other-state detainers can block release. They are not in public data. |
| Consecutive and concurrent sentences | How sentences stack changes every date. We do not recompute aggregated sentences. |
| Parole board discretion | Eligibility is not release. Boards decide, and can deny or defer. |
| Jail credit errors | Pretrial credit is set by the court. Errors must be fixed through the court or records office. |
| Recent law changes | New laws, court rulings and DOC policy changes can take weeks to reach records. |
| Individual legal advice | We explain public rules. A lawyer or the DOC records office can apply them to one case. |
Always confirm dates with the official DOC records office.
Sources
Official statute, regulation, or agency pages only. Last checked Oct 16, 2026, 8:23 AM MT. Spotted an error? Tell us.
All 50 states + DC · Federal (First Step Act) · Paroling to another state (Interstate Compact)
Sources: Va. Code §53.1-202.3 (earned sentence credit rates) · Last verified: · Corrections