Index
Virginia Abolishes the Death Penalty
Summary
In 2021, Virginia became the first Southern state to completely abolish the death penalty. It was a historic shift for a state that had previously executed more people than any other state in U.S. history.
Rights & Rules
- 01.The state government can no longer sentence anyone to death for a crime, including aggravated murder.
- 02.The maximum possible punishment under Virginia law is now life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- 03.When the law passed, the sentences of the two men remaining on Virginia's death row were automatically converted to life in prison without parole.
- 04.Prosecutors cannot use the threat of the death penalty as a bargaining chip to secure a plea deal.
Penalties
- 01.The law entirely removes the mechanism for execution, so there are no exceptions where the death penalty can still be applied under state law.
Verified Citations
Code of Virginia Section 18.2-10
Source"The authorized punishments for conviction of a felony are: (a) For Class 1 felonies, imprisonment for life and, subject to subdivision (g), a fine of not more than $100,000..."