{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-386.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-386.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-386.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-386.1.html"}],"law_id":79274,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79274,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-386.1","catch_line":"Unlawful creation of image of another; penalty","history":"1994, c. 640; 2004, c. 844; 2005, c. 375; 2008, c. 732; 2014, c. 399.","full_text":"A\n\nIt shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally create any videographic or still image by any means whatsoever of any nonconsenting person if (i) that person is totally nude, clad in undergarments, or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed, tanning booth, bedroom or other location; or (ii) the videographic or still image is created by placing the lens or image-gathering component of the recording device in a position directly beneath or between a person’s legs for the purpose of capturing an image of the person’s intimate parts or undergarments covering those intimate parts when the intimate parts or undergarments would not otherwise be visible to the general public; and when the circumstances set forth in clause (i) or (ii) are otherwise such that the person being recorded would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.B\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not apply to any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever by (i) law-enforcement officers pursuant to a criminal investigation which is otherwise lawful or (ii) correctional officials and local or regional jail officials for security purposes or for investigations of alleged misconduct involving a person committed to the Department of Corrections or to a local or regional jail, or to any sound recording of an oral conversation made as a result of any videotaping or filming pursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 19.2-61 et seq.) of Title 19.2.C\n\nA violation of subsection A shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.D\n\nA violation of subsection A involving a nonconsenting person under the age of 18 shall be punishable as a Class 6 felony.E\n\nWhere it is alleged in the warrant, information, or indictment on which the person is convicted and found by the court or jury trying the case that the person has previously been convicted within the 10-year period immediately preceding the offense charged of two or more of the offenses specified in this section, each such offense occurring on a different date, and when such offenses were not part of a common act, transaction, or scheme, and such person has been at liberty as defined in § 53.1-151 between each conviction, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":283839,"text":"It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally create any videographic or still image by any means whatsoever of any nonconsenting person if (i) that person is totally nude, clad in undergarments, or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed, tanning booth, bedroom or other location; or (ii) the videographic or still image is created by placing the lens or image-gathering component of the recording device in a position directly beneath or between a person’s legs for the purpose of capturing an image of the person’s intimate parts or undergarments covering those intimate parts when the intimate parts or undergarments would not otherwise be visible to the general public; and when the circumstances set forth in clause (i) or (ii) are otherwise such that the person being recorded would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":283840,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not apply to any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever by (i) law-enforcement officers pursuant to a criminal investigation which is otherwise lawful or (ii) correctional officials and local or regional jail officials for security purposes or for investigations of alleged misconduct involving a person committed to the Department of Corrections or to a local or regional jail, or to any sound recording of an oral conversation made as a result of any videotaping or filming pursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 19.2-61 et seq.) of Title 19.2.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":283841,"text":"A violation of subsection A shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":283842,"text":"A violation of subsection A involving a nonconsenting person under the age of 18 shall be punishable as a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":283843,"text":"Where it is alleged in the warrant, information, or indictment on which the person is convicted and found by the court or jury trying the case that the person has previously been convicted within the 10-year period immediately preceding the offense charged of two or more of the offenses specified in this section, each such offense occurring on a different date, and when such offenses were not part of a common act, transaction, or scheme, and such person has been at liberty as defined in § 53.1-151 between each conviction, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14633,"edition_id":1,"name":"Obscenity and Related Offenses","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14022,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:00","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:00","permalink":{"id":167843,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14633,"identifier":"5","token":"18.2\/8\/5","url":"\/18.2\/8\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14022,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Morals and Decency","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:37","permalink":{"id":167393,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14022,"identifier":"8","token":"18.2\/8","url":"\/18.2\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81551,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-372","catch_line":"\"Obscene\" defined","url":"\/18.2-372\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-372","metadata":false},{"id":86006,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-373","catch_line":"Obscene items enumerated","url":"\/18.2-373\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-373","metadata":false},{"id":82506,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374","catch_line":"Production, publication, sale, possession, etc., of obscene items","url":"\/18.2-374\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374","metadata":false},{"id":61326,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.1","catch_line":"Production, publication, sale, financing, etc., of child pornography; presumption as to age","url":"\/18.2-374.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.1","metadata":false},{"id":63653,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.1:1","catch_line":"Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography; penalty","url":"\/18.2-374.1_1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":83319,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.1:2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-374.1_2\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.1_2","metadata":false},{"id":83624,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-374.2\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.2","metadata":false},{"id":77778,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.3","catch_line":"Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children; penalties","url":"\/18.2-374.3\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-374.3","metadata":false},{"id":56184,"structure_id":14633,"section_number":"18.2-374.4","catch_line":"Display of child pornography or grooming video or materials to a child unlawful; 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This law was first created in 1994. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 640<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2004, chapter 844<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 375<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 732<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 399<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68420,"section_number":"16.1-69.55","catch_line":"Retention of case records; limitations on enforcement of judgments; extensions","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.55\/"},{"id":82171,"section_number":"19.2-249.2","catch_line":"Venue for prosecution of computer and other crimes","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-249.2\/"},{"id":64807,"section_number":"19.2-268.3","catch_line":"Admissibility of statements by children in certain cases","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-268.3\/"},{"id":61280,"section_number":"19.2-392.02","catch_line":"National criminal background checks by businesses and organizations regarding employees or volunteers providing care to children or the elderly or disabled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.02\/"},{"id":71434,"section_number":"19.2-8","catch_line":"Limitation of prosecutions","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-8\/"},{"id":84089,"section_number":"63.2-1605","catch_line":"Protective services for adults by local departments","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1605\/"},{"id":57913,"section_number":"8.01-40.4","catch_line":"Civil action for unlawful creation of image of another or unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-40.4\/"},{"id":80819,"section_number":"9.1-902","catch_line":"Offenses requiring registration","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-902\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":53969,"section_number":"19.2-61","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-61\/"},{"id":81762,"section_number":"53.1-151","catch_line":"Eligibility for parole","order_by":null,"url":"\/53.1-151\/"}],"permalink":{"id":167933,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79274,"identifier":"18.2-386.1","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-386.1","url":"\/18.2-386.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-386.1\/","token":"18.2\/8\/5\/18.2-386.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Unlawful creation of image of another; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-386.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally create any videographic or still image by any means whatsoever of any nonconsenting person if (i) that person is totally nude, clad in undergarments, or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed, tanning booth, bedroom or other location; or (ii) the videographic or still image is created by placing the lens or image-gathering component of the recording device in a position directly beneath or between a person’s legs for the purpose of capturing an image of the person’s intimate parts or undergarments covering those intimate parts when the intimate parts or undergarments would not otherwise be visible to the general public; and when the circumstances set forth in clause (i) or (ii) are otherwise such that the person being recorded would have a reasonable expectation of privacy. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to any videographic or still image created by any means whatsoever by (i) law<\/span>-enforcement officers pursuant to a criminal investigation which is otherwise lawful or (ii) correctional officials and local or regional jail officials for security purposes or for investigations of alleged misconduct involving a person committed to the Department of Corrections or to a local or regional jail, or to any sound recording of an oral conversation made as a result of any videotaping or filming pursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 19.2-61<\/a> et seq.) of Title 19.2. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> A violation of subsection A shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> A violation of subsection A involving a nonconsenting person under the age of 18 shall be punishable as a Class 6 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Where it is alleged in the warrant, information, or indictment<\/span> on which the person is convicted and found by the court<\/span> or jury<\/span> trying the case that the person has previously been convicted within the 10-year period immediately preceding the offense<\/span> charged of two or more of the offenses<\/span> specified in this section, each such offense<\/span> occurring on a different date, and when such offenses<\/span> were not part of a common act, transaction, or scheme, and such person has been at liberty as defined in § 53.1-151<\/a> between each conviction<\/span>, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUNLAWFUL CREATION OF IMAGE OF ANOTHER; PENALTY (\u00a7 18.2-386.1)\n\nA. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally create any\nvideographic or still image by any means whatsoever of any nonconsenting person\nif (i) that person is totally nude, clad in undergarments, or in a state of\nundress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast in a\nrestroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed,\ntanning booth, bedroom or other location; or (ii) the videographic or still\nimage is created by placing the lens or image-gathering component of the\nrecording device in a position directly beneath or between a person’s legs\nfor the purpose of capturing an image of the person’s intimate parts or\nundergarments covering those intimate parts when the intimate parts or\nundergarments would not otherwise be visible to the general public; and when the\ncircumstances set forth in clause (i) or (ii) are otherwise such that the person\nbeing recorded would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.\n\nB. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any videographic or still\nimage created by any means whatsoever by (i) law-enforcement officers pursuant\nto a criminal investigation which is otherwise lawful or (ii) correctional\nofficials and local or regional jail officials for security purposes or for\ninvestigations of alleged misconduct involving a person committed to the\nDepartment of Corrections or to a local or regional jail, or to any sound\nrecording of an oral conversation made as a result of any videotaping or filming\npursuant to Chapter 6 (§ 19.2-61 et seq.) of Title 19.2.\n\nC. A violation of subsection A shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nD. A violation of subsection A involving a nonconsenting person under the age of\n18 shall be punishable as a Class 6 felony.\n\nE. Where it is alleged in the warrant, information, or indictment on which the\nperson is convicted and found by the court or jury trying the case that the\nperson has previously been convicted within the 10-year period immediately\npreceding the offense charged of two or more of the offenses specified in this\nsection, each such offense occurring on a different date, and when such offenses\nwere not part of a common act, transaction, or scheme, and such person has been\nat liberty as defined in § 53.1-151 between each conviction, he shall be\nguilty of a Class 6 felony.\n\nHISTORY: 1994, c. 640; 2004, c. 844; 2005, c. 375; 2008, c. 732; 2014, c. 399.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}