Virginia Prisoner Litigation Reform Act

The act governs civil actions brought by prisoners over the conditions of their confinement, including proceedings that seek a prisoner's release, and defines which prisoners and which claims fall within its reach. It conditions such suits on the exhaustion of available administrative remedies, provides for dismissal of actions that fail its requirements, and sets rules for proceeding in forma pauperis, for service, and for the defendant's reply. It further constrains the conduct of the litigation itself — limiting discovery, subpoenas, and oral argument — while addressing the maintenance of records and the damages recoverable in these cases.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.