{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/37.2-917.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/37.2-917.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/37.2-917.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/37.2-917.html"}],"law_id":361116,"edition_id":2,"section_id":361116,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-917","catch_line":"Escape of persons committed; penalty","history":"1999, cc. 946, 985, \u00a7 37.1-70.18; 2001, c. 776; 2005, c. 716.","full_text":"Any person committed to the custody of the Commissioner pursuant to this chapter who escapes from custody shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1343835,"text":"Any person committed to the custody of the Commissioner pursuant to this chapter who escapes from custody shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":51643,"edition_id":2,"name":"Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators","identifier":"9","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":51633,"metadata":{"child_laws":25,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:45:27","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:54","permalink":{"id":1437505,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51643,"identifier":"9","token":"37.2\/III\/9","url":"\/37.2\/III\/9\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51633,"edition_id":2,"name":"Admissions and Dispositions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":3,"parent_id":51608,"metadata":{"child_laws":82,"child_structures":10},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:45:19","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:52","permalink":{"id":1437257,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51633,"identifier":"III","token":"37.2\/III","url":"\/37.2\/III\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51608,"edition_id":2,"name":"Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","identifier":"37.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":85,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":229,"child_structures":35},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:44:56","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:46","permalink":{"id":1436675,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51608,"identifier":"37.2","token":"37.2","url":"\/37.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":361097,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-900","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/37.2-900\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-900","metadata":false},{"id":361096,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-900.1","catch_line":"Office of Sexually Violent Predator Services","url":"\/37.2-900.1\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-900.1","metadata":false},{"id":361098,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-901","catch_line":"Civil proceeding; rights of respondents; discovery","url":"\/37.2-901\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-901","metadata":false},{"id":361099,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-902","catch_line":"Commitment Review Committee; membership","url":"\/37.2-902\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-902","metadata":false},{"id":361100,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-903","catch_line":"Database of prisoners convicted of sexually violent offenses; maintained by Department of Corrections; notice of pending release to CRC","url":"\/37.2-903\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-903","metadata":false},{"id":361101,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-904","catch_line":"CRC assessment of prisoners or defendants eligible for commitment as sexually violent predators; mental health examination; recommendation","url":"\/37.2-904\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-904","metadata":false},{"id":361104,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-905","catch_line":"Review of prisoners convicted of a sexually violent offense; review of unrestorably incompetent defendants charged with sexually violent offenses; petition for commitment; notice to Department of Corrections or referring court regarding disposition of review","url":"\/37.2-905\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-905","metadata":false},{"id":361102,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-905.1","catch_line":"Substantial compliance","url":"\/37.2-905.1\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-905.1","metadata":false},{"id":361103,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-905.2","catch_line":"Access to records","url":"\/37.2-905.2\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-905.2","metadata":false},{"id":361105,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-906","catch_line":"Probable cause hearing; procedures","url":"\/37.2-906\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-906","metadata":false},{"id":361106,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-907","catch_line":"Right to assistance of experts; compensation","url":"\/37.2-907\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-907","metadata":false},{"id":361107,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-908","catch_line":"Trial; right to trial by jury; standard of proof; discovery","url":"\/37.2-908\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-908","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Gibson v. Commonwealth","case_number":"131256","citation":null,"date":"2014-04-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2670487\/gibson-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Present:   All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"REVI, LLC v. Chicago Title Insurance Co.","case_number":"Record 141562.","citation":"776 S.E.2d 808","date":"2015-09-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2959680\/revi-llc-v-chicago-title-insurance-co\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Justice KELSEY, dissenting. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Johnny Ray Benefield v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"0487243","citation":null,"date":"2024-11-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10277227\/johnny-ray-benefield-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Kim v. Director, Virginia Department of Corrections","case_number":"Case No. 1:14cv1637","citation":"103 F. Supp. 3d 749","date":"2015-04-30","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7313399\/kim-v-director-virginia-department-of-corrections\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. MEMORANDUM OPINION .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"4":{"name":"Thomas v. Commonwealth","case_number":"Record 180015; Record 180764","citation":"829 S.E.2d 534","date":"2019-06-27","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4633395\/thomas-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION BY JUSTICE STEPHEN R. McCULLOUGH .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":"Thomas v. Commonwealth (CORRECTED)","case_number":"180764","citation":null,"date":"2019-06-27","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4636315\/thomas-v-commonwealth-corrected\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":"Lawrence v. Com.","case_number":"091119","citation":"689 S.E.2d 748","date":"2010-02-25","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058230\/lawrence-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 689 S.E.2d 748 (2010) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"7":{"name":"Com. v. Wynn","case_number":"Record 072412.","citation":"671 S.E.2d 137","date":"2009-01-16","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058412\/com-v-wynn\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 671 S.E.2d 137 (2009) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"8":{"name":"Commonwealth v. Blaxton","case_number":"102360","citation":null,"date":"2012-03-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1057927\/commonwealth-v-blaxton\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Present: Kinser, C.J., Lemons, Goodwyn, Millette, McClanahan .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"9":{"name":"Com. v. Bell","case_number":"102314","citation":"714 S.E.2d 562","date":"2011-09-16","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058005\/com-v-bell\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 714 S.E.2d 562 (2011) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":361108,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-909","catch_line":"Placement of committed respondents","url":"\/37.2-909\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-909","metadata":false},{"id":361109,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-910","catch_line":"Review of continuation of secure inpatient treatment hearing; procedure and reports; disposition","url":"\/37.2-910\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-910","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Johnny Ray Benefield v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"0487243","citation":null,"date":"2024-11-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10277227\/johnny-ray-benefield-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Shellman v. Commonwealth","case_number":"120261","citation":null,"date":"2012-11-01","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1057809\/shellman-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Present: Kinser, C.J., Lemons, Goodwyn, Millette, McClanahan, .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Thomas v. Commonwealth (CORRECTED)","case_number":"180764","citation":null,"date":"2019-06-27","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4636315\/thomas-v-commonwealth-corrected\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Thomas v. Commonwealth","case_number":"Record 180015; Record 180764","citation":"829 S.E.2d 534","date":"2019-06-27","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4633395\/thomas-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION BY JUSTICE STEPHEN R. McCULLOUGH .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Lotz v. Com.","case_number":"Record 081122.","citation":"672 S.E.2d 833","date":"2009-02-27","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058377\/lotz-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 672 S.E.2d 833 (2009) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":"Com. v. Bell","case_number":"102314","citation":"714 S.E.2d 562","date":"2011-09-16","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058005\/com-v-bell\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 714 S.E.2d 562 (2011) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":"Smith v. Com.","case_number":"091535","citation":"694 S.E.2d 578","date":"2010-06-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058175\/smith-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 694 S.E.2d 578 (2010) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"7":{"name":"Gibson v. Commonwealth","case_number":"131256","citation":null,"date":"2014-04-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2670487\/gibson-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Present:   All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"8":{"name":"Rhoten v. Commonwealth","case_number":"130456","citation":null,"date":"2013-10-31","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2620442\/rhoten-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT:   All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":361110,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-911","catch_line":"Petition for release; hearing; procedures","url":"\/37.2-911\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-911","metadata":false},{"id":361111,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-912","catch_line":"Conditional release; criteria; conditions; reports; penalty","url":"\/37.2-912\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-912","metadata":false},{"id":361112,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-913","catch_line":"Emergency custody of conditionally released respondents; revocation of conditional release","url":"\/37.2-913\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-913","metadata":false},{"id":361113,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-914","catch_line":"Modification or removal of conditions; notice; objections; review","url":"\/37.2-914\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-914","metadata":false},{"id":361114,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-915","catch_line":"Representation of Commonwealth and person subject to commitment; nature of proceedings","url":"\/37.2-915\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-915","metadata":false},{"id":361115,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-916","catch_line":"Authority of Commissioner; delegation to board; liability","url":"\/37.2-916\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-916","metadata":false},{"id":361116,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-917","catch_line":"Escape of persons committed; penalty","url":"\/37.2-917\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-917","metadata":false},{"id":361117,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-918","catch_line":"Persons on conditional release leaving Commonwealth; penalty","url":"\/37.2-918\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-918","metadata":false},{"id":361118,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-919","catch_line":"Postrelease supervision of Department; commission of new criminal offense by person committed to Department","url":"\/37.2-919\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-919","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":361119,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-920","catch_line":"Appeal by Attorney General; emergency custody order","url":"\/37.2-920\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-920","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Smith v. Com.","case_number":"091535","citation":"694 S.E.2d 578","date":"2010-06-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058175\/smith-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 694 S.E.2d 578 (2010) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":361120,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-921","catch_line":"Department to give notice of Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry requirements to certain persons","url":"\/37.2-921\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-921","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":361115,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-916","catch_line":"Authority of Commissioner; delegation to board; liability","url":"\/37.2-916\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-916","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":361117,"structure_id":51643,"section_number":"37.2-918","catch_line":"Persons on conditional release leaving Commonwealth; penalty","url":"\/37.2-918\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-918","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/37.2-917\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1999. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?991+ful+CHAP0946\">946<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?991+ful+CHAP0985\">985<\/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 2 times. 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. Those modifications are as follows: in 2001, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?011+ful+CHAP0776\">776<\/a>; in 2005, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0716\">716<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":350225,"section_number":"17.1-805","catch_line":"Adoption of initial discretionary sentencing guideline midpoints","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-805\/"},{"id":351833,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"},{"id":367665,"section_number":"53.1-202.3","catch_line":"Rate at which sentence credits may be earned; prerequisites","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-202.3\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1437587,"object_type":"law","relational_id":361116,"identifier":"37.2-917","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-917","url":"\/37.2-917\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/37.2-917\/","token":"37.2\/III\/9\/37.2-917","dublin_core":{"Title":"Escape of persons committed; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 37.2-917","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Any person committed to the <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner<\/span> pursuant to this chapter who escapes from <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span> shall be guilty of a Class 6 <span class=\"dictionary\">felony<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nESCAPE OF PERSONS COMMITTED; PENALTY (\u00a7 37.2-917)\n\nAny person committed to the custody of the Commissioner pursuant to this chapter\nwho escapes from custody shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\nHISTORY: 1999, cc. 946, 985, \u00a7 37.1-70.18; 2001, c. 776; 2005, c. 716.","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"}}