Authority: §§ 53.1-67.2 through 53.1-67.6 and §§ 53.1-140 through 53.1-176.3, Code of Virginia.

A.  By September 1 of each year, the Department of Corrections shall provide a status report on the Statewide Community-Based Corrections System for State-Responsible Offenders to the Chairmen of the House Courts of Justice; Health, Welfare and Institutions; and Appropriations Committees and the Senate Courts of Justice; Rehabilitation and Social Services; and Finance Committees.

B. In the case of any offender on probation for a nonviolent felony  (i) who violates the conditions of his probation, but who has not committed a new criminal offense, (ii) whose score on the worksheets of the Probation Violation Guidelines developed by the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission results in a recommendation for incarceration in the Department of Corrections, and (iii) who voluntarily agrees to participate, the chief probation and parole officer may, in lieu of seeking judicial revocation of the offender's probation under the provisions of § 19.2-306, Code of Virginia, continue the offender on probation on the condition that the offender enter and successfully complete a detention center incarceration program or diversion center incarceration program operated by the Department of Corrections under the provisions of §§ 19.2-316.2 and 19.2-316.3, Code of Virginia.  For each offender placed in a detention center incarceration program or diversion center incarceration program under the provisions of this paragraph, the chief probation and parole officer shall notify the chief judge of the appropriate circuit court and the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission in a manner prescribed by the court and the Commission.

C. Included in the appropriation for this Item is $855,593 the first year and $1,114,873 the second year from the general fund for (i) ten additional probation and parole officers to function as probation and parole transitional specialists or case managers in probation and parole district offices in Richmond and in the Tidewater area and (ii) special services needed by offenders reentering society from prison, e.g. temporary housing, emergency mental health medications and treatment.  The Department of Corrections shall report on the progress of the implementation of this initiative to the Secretary of Public Safety; the Director, Department of Planning and Budget; and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by September 1, 2009.