MOTION FOR FURLOUGH
Table of Contents
- Caption
- Defendant/Inmate Information
- Grounds for Furlough
- Statutory Authority
- Proposed Conditions of Furlough
- Risk Assessment
- Supporting Documentation
- Proposed Order
- Certificate of Service
Caption
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
IN THE [________________________________] COURT
[________________________________] COUNTY / CITY
| COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA | |
| v. | Case No.: [________________________________] |
| [________________________________], | |
| Defendant/Inmate. |
MOTION FOR FURLOUGH / TEMPORARY RELEASE
The Defendant/Inmate, [________________________________], by and through undersigned counsel, respectfully moves this Honorable Court to grant or recommend a furlough / temporary release from [________________________________] (correctional facility), and in support thereof states as follows:
Defendant/Inmate Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | [________________________________] |
| DOC Offender Number | [________________________________] |
| Date of Birth | [__/__/____] |
| Current Facility | [________________________________] |
| Facility Type | ☐ State Correctional ☐ Local/Regional Jail ☐ Work Release |
| Date of Commitment | [__/__/____] |
| Offense(s) of Conviction | [________________________________] |
| Sentence Imposed | [________________________________] |
| Parole Eligibility/Release Date | [__/__/____] |
| Projected Release Date | [__/__/____] |
Grounds for Furlough
A. General Furlough — Home or Family Visit (Va. Code § 53.1-37)
☐ Family Visitation
The Defendant seeks a furlough for the purpose of visiting [________________________________] (home/family) at [________________________________] (address). The requested duration is [____] days (maximum 3 days).
☐ Serious Illness of Family Member
The Defendant's [________________________________] (relationship) is seriously ill at [________________________________] (medical facility). Medical documentation is attached.
☐ Funeral Attendance
The Defendant's [________________________________] (relationship) passed away on [__/__/____]. Services are scheduled for [__/__/____] at [________________________________].
B. Pre-Parole Furlough (Va. Code § 53.1-37)
☐ Approved for Parole — 30 Days or Less Remaining
The Defendant has been approved for release on parole by the Virginia Parole Board, and [____] days (30 or fewer) remain to be served prior to the parole release date of [__/__/____]. The Defendant requests a furlough not exceeding 30 days to facilitate community reentry.
C. Local Work Release Program Furlough (Va. Code § 53.1-132)
☐ Work Release Program Participant
The Defendant is currently participating in a work release program at [________________________________] and requests a furlough for the purpose of visiting home or family, for a period not exceeding 3 days.
Statutory Authority
This Motion is filed pursuant to the following Virginia statutes:
-
Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-37 — Authorizes the Director to extend limits of confinement to permit a furlough for visiting home or family (maximum 3 days), or for up to 30 days when the prisoner has been approved for parole and 30 days or fewer remain before release.
-
Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-38 — Establishes ineligibility: any prisoner convicted of a felony under Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 (crimes against persons), arson, burglary, or robbery committed while on administrative furlough is ineligible for further furlough.
-
Va. Code Ann. § 53.1-132 — Authorizes furloughs from local work release programs for the purpose of visiting home or family, maximum 3 days.
Key Provisions:
- General furlough time does NOT count as time served and no sentence credits accrue
- Pre-parole furlough time does count toward the sentence
- Willful failure to remain or return: escape (same penalty as leaving the facility)
- Failure to remain or return without authority or just cause: Class 2 misdemeanor
Proposed Conditions of Furlough
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Type of Furlough | ☐ General ☐ Pre-Parole ☐ Work Release |
| Requested Duration | [________________________________] (max 3 days or 30 days pre-parole) |
| Requested Start Date | [__/__/____] |
| Requested Return Date | [__/__/____] |
| Destination Address | [________________________________] |
| Responsible Party/Sponsor | [________________________________] |
| Sponsor Contact Information | [________________________________] |
| Mode of Transportation | [________________________________] |
Additional Proposed Conditions:
☐ Defendant shall remain within limits of confinement set by the Director
☐ Defendant shall not consume alcohol or controlled substances
☐ Defendant shall not possess firearms or dangerous weapons
☐ Defendant shall comply with all federal, state, and local laws
☐ Defendant shall return to the facility by [________________________________] (time) on [__/__/____]
☐ Defendant shall report to [________________________________] as directed
☐ Defendant shall be escorted by DOC personnel (if required)
☐ Defendant shall maintain telephone contact with the facility at intervals of [________________________________]
☐ Defendant shall not leave [________________________________] (county/city) without authorization
☐ Other: [________________________________]
Risk Assessment
-
Institutional Conduct: The Defendant has maintained [________________________________] conduct, with [____] disciplinary infractions in the past [____] months/years.
-
Security Classification: The Defendant is currently classified at [________________________________] level.
-
Program Participation: The Defendant has participated in: [________________________________].
-
Community Ties: The Defendant has [________________________________] (family, housing, employment).
-
Prior Furlough History: [________________________________].
-
Time Served: The Defendant has served [________________________________] of the imposed sentence.
-
Eligibility Confirmation: ☐ The Defendant has NOT been convicted of any offense while on prior furlough that would render the Defendant ineligible under § 53.1-38.
Supporting Documentation
☐ Exhibit A — Medical documentation for family illness/emergency
☐ Exhibit B — Death certificate, obituary, or funeral notice
☐ Exhibit C — Parole Board approval letter (if pre-parole furlough)
☐ Exhibit D — Institutional conduct and classification report
☐ Exhibit E — Program participation records
☐ Exhibit F — Community sponsor affidavit
☐ Exhibit G — Proposed furlough plan/itinerary
☐ Exhibit H — Work release participation record (if applicable)
☐ Exhibit I — [________________________________]
Proposed Order
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
IN THE [________________________________] COURT
[________________________________] COUNTY / CITY
ORDER GRANTING FURLOUGH / RECOMMENDATION FOR FURLOUGH
Upon consideration of the Motion for Furlough filed by the Defendant, [________________________________], and for good cause shown:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED / RECOMMENDED that the Defendant be granted a furlough from [________________________________] (facility) for a period of [____] days, commencing on [__/__/____] and concluding on [__/__/____], subject to the following conditions:
- [________________________________]
- [________________________________]
- [________________________________]
☐ IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that furlough time shall NOT count as time served against the sentence and no earned sentence credits or good conduct allowance shall accrue during the furlough period.
☐ IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this is a pre-parole furlough and time shall count toward the sentence.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Virginia Department of Corrections shall be notified of this Order.
Date: [__/__/____]
___________________________________________
Judge
Certificate of Service
I hereby certify that on [__/__/____], a true and correct copy of this Motion for Furlough was served upon:
☐ Commonwealth's Attorney, [________________________________] — [________________________________]
☐ Virginia Department of Corrections — [________________________________]
☐ Virginia Parole Board (if applicable) — [________________________________]
☐ Victim(s) / Victim's Advocate — [________________________________]
☐ Local Sheriff/Work Release Director (if applicable) — [________________________________]
☐ Other: [________________________________]
Method of Service: ☐ Hand Delivery ☐ U.S. Mail ☐ Electronic Filing ☐ Email
___________________________________________
Attorney for Defendant
[________________________________]
[________________________________] (VSB Number)
[________________________________] (Address)
[________________________________] (Phone)
[________________________________] (Email)
Virginia-Specific Notes
- Maximum Duration: General furloughs are limited to 3 days. Pre-parole furloughs may be up to 30 days when the inmate has been approved for parole and 30 or fewer days remain.
- No Sentence Credit (General): General furlough time does NOT count as time served, and no earned sentence credits, good conduct allowance, or other sentence reductions accrue.
- Pre-Parole Exception: Pre-parole furlough time DOES count toward the sentence.
- Escape Penalties: Willful failure to remain or return constitutes escape with the same penalties as leaving the facility. Failure without authority or just cause is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
- Permanent Ineligibility: Under § 53.1-38, conviction of a violent felony (Ch. 4, Title 18.2), arson, burglary, or robbery while on furlough permanently bars future furloughs.
- Travel Expenses: Travel expenses for furloughed prisoners are governed by § 53.1-37.
- Director Authority: The Director of the Department of Corrections has authority to grant state facility furloughs; local work release directors have authority for local program furloughs.
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Last updated: April 2026