Virginia Exile is the Commonwealth's tough program which carries bail restrictions and imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in a Virginia prison for those who:

• have a prior conviction for a violent felony and are convicted of possessing a firearm;
• are convicted of possessing a firearm on school property with the intent to use it, or displaying it in a threatening manner;
• are convicted of possessing a firearm and Schedule I or II drugs such as cocaine or heroin, or convicted of possessing more than a pound of marijuana with the intent to sell.

Virginia Exile is designed to build upon the success of Project Exile, a federal program started in Richmond in 1997. By prosecuting illegal gun offenses in federal court, Project Exile has helped to reduce gun violence in Richmond, Virginia by 40 percent, according to federal and city officials.

What is Virginia Exile?

Virginia Exile's purpose is to break the link between guns and drugs, between guns and crime in general, and to help put an end to gun violence which has affected too many communities.

Virginia Exile gives local prosecutors, law enforcement agencies and the courts more resources and tools to get gun wielding criminals out of our neighborhoods and off of our streets.

Virginia Exile also helps communities mobilize to get the word out on the street that gun violence won't be tolerated.

How Does Exile Work?

The Department of Criminal Justice Services funds several Exile programs. For information on the state-funded grant programs only, contact Kathi Lee, Department of Criminal Justice Services, at (804) 786-4303, or by email. For questions about the interpretation or application of Exile laws, contact a commonwealth's attorney or the Office of the Attorney General.