The Virginia Department of Corrections is responsible for the incarceration of state-responsible inmates in Virginia.
State responsible inmates are those individuals convicted of a felony offense and sentenced to a term of incarceration of greater than one year. The House Appropriations Committee provides general fund resources to operate the state’s corrections system through the Department of Corrections.
Budget Overview
The Department of Corrections is the largest primarily general fund supported agency in the budget. In FY 2025, the total appropriation for the Department of Corrections was $1.58 billion. Of this amount, $1.51 billion, or 96% of the overall appropriation, was supported from general funds. Between FY 2021 and FY 2025, the total appropriation for the Department of Corrections grew by $190 million, or 13.6%.
Program/Policy Highlights
- Recidivism
There is no national standard for reporting recidivism rates. As a result, Virginia can only compare itself to about two thirds of states. Among its peers, Virginia has the lowest 3-year recidivism rate in the country at 17.6%, substantially lower than the national average of 31%.
3-year Recidivism Rate for Virginia and its Peers, May 2025
Resources and Deep Dives
Staff Contact
