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February 5, 2023
Class Activity 2
Common Virginia Crime Codes
The Common Virginia Crime Codes contain a listing of various offenses along with the
codes that are associated with them. Two of the offenses on the list are classified as “petty theft”
(18.2-96) and “burglary” (18.2-89). These transgressions have in the past been handled in a
variety of ways, and their punishments have ranged widely depending on the specific of the case
as well as the judge’s judicial prerogatives.
Theft of property with a value of less than $200 might be considered “petty larceny”
another name for “petty theft” according to the definition. In time past, the local authorities were
the ones who typically dealt with cases of petty larceny because it was believed to be a small
offense. Instead of being arrested and taken to jail, the accused is often given a citation to appear
in court rather than being taken to prison immediately. A court date and directions for the
accused would be included in the citation, and they would be required to appear in court and
respond to the allegations.
A warrant might be issued for the accused person’s arrest in the event that they did not
appear in court as required. On the other hand, in the vast majority of instances, the accused
would have to show up in court, and the matter would be heard in front of a judge. As a kind of
sanction for the commission of the offense, the accused may, in some circumstances, be
sentenced to pay a fine or perform community service. In more severe instances, the accused
person may be required to serve time in jail or prison for a period of time.
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On the other hand, the act of breaking and entering a residence or structure with the
intention of committing a crime or theft is considered to be the definition of burglary. In days
gone by, how instances involving burglaries were investigated and prosecuted differed greatly
based on the nature of the offense as well as the region in which it took place. In some instances,
the accused person would be arrested and kept in jail pending trial, while other would be allowed
to post bond and be freed on the condition that they appeared in court at a later date.
In the event that the accused was apprehended, they would spend the time leading up to
their trial detained in a local jail or prison. They would have the opportunity to confer with an
attorney and get their defense ready during this period of time. The accused person would have
to appear in court at a later date and give a response to the allegations if they were allowed to
post bail and be freed from custody. A conviction for burglary could result in anything from a
fine or community service to an extended period of incarceration, depending on the specifics of
the case and the judge’s prerogative to impose whatever sentence he or she deems appropriate.
It is important to note that although the treatment of these offenses may have been
handled in a variety of ways in the past, the laws and procedures that are currently in place for
dealing with such crimes have become more standardized and uniform as a result of the
evolution of law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Despite this, the severity of the
sentence for a particular offense will always be determined by the judge’s discretion and the
individual circumstances surrounding the act.
