{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-392.14.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-392.14.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-392.14.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-392.14.html"}],"law_id":70011,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70011,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.14","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of sealed records; penalty","history":"2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 524, 542; 2023, cc. 554, 555; 2025, cc. 634, 671.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is unlawful for any employee of any department, division, board, bureau, commission, branch, authority, or other agency created by the Commonwealth, or to which the Commonwealth is a party or any political subdivision thereof, having or acquiring access to sealed criminal history record information or a court record, including any records relating to an arrest, charge, or conviction, that was ordered to be sealed pursuant to § 19.2-392.7, 19.2-392.8, 19.2-392.10, 19.2-392.11, 19.2-392.12, or 19.2-392.12:1, or that was sealed without entry of a court order pursuant to § 19.2-392.6:1 or 19.2-392.17, to disclose such record or any information from such record to another person, except in accordance with the purposes set forth in § 19.2-392.13 and pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to § 9.1-128 and the procedures adopted pursuant to § 9.1-134.B\n\nA clerk of the court shall not be in violation of this section if such clerk informs a person requesting access to a sealed court record that such court record has been sealed and can only be accessed pursuant to a court order.C\n\nAny person who knowingly and intentionally violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":252955,"text":"It is unlawful for any employee of any department, division, board, bureau, commission, branch, authority, or other agency created by the Commonwealth, or to which the Commonwealth is a party or any political subdivision thereof, having or acquiring access to sealed criminal history record information or a court record, including any records relating to an arrest, charge, or conviction, that was ordered to be sealed pursuant to § 19.2-392.7, 19.2-392.8, 19.2-392.10, 19.2-392.11, 19.2-392.12, or 19.2-392.12:1, or that was sealed without entry of a court order pursuant to § 19.2-392.6:1 or 19.2-392.17, to disclose such record or any information from such record to another person, except in accordance with the purposes set forth in § 19.2-392.13 and pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to § 9.1-128 and the procedures adopted pursuant to § 9.1-134.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":252956,"text":"A clerk of the court shall not be in violation of this section if such clerk informs a person requesting access to a sealed court record that such court record has been sealed and can only be accessed pursuant to a court order.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":252957,"text":"Any person who knowingly and intentionally violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15629,"edition_id":1,"name":"Sealing of Criminal History Record Information and Court Records","identifier":"23.2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12801,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:57:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:57:05","permalink":{"id":170525,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15629,"identifier":"23.2","token":"19.2\/23.2","url":"\/19.2\/23.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12801,"edition_id":1,"name":"Criminal Procedure","identifier":"19.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":168169,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12801,"identifier":"19.2","token":"19.2","url":"\/19.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":71781,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.10","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Process for automatic sealing of offenses resulting in acquittal, nolle prosequi, or dismissal","url":"\/19.2-392.10\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.10","metadata":false},{"id":59687,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.11","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of misdemeanor offenses resulting in acquittal, nolle prosequi, or dismissal for persons with no convictions or deferred and dismissed offenses on their criminal history record","url":"\/19.2-392.11\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.11","metadata":false},{"id":74660,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.12","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition","url":"\/19.2-392.12\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.12","metadata":false},{"id":76488,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.12:1","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of charges and convictions related to automatic sealing; petition","url":"\/19.2-392.12_1\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.12_1","metadata":false},{"id":72473,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.12:2","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Annual report","url":"\/19.2-392.12_2\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.12_2","metadata":false},{"id":84075,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.13","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disposition of records when an offense is sealed; permitted uses of sealed records","url":"\/19.2-392.13\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.13","metadata":false},{"id":70011,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.14","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of sealed records; penalty","url":"\/19.2-392.14\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.14","metadata":false},{"id":61027,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.15","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Prohibited practices by employers, educational institutions, agencies, etc., of state and local governments; penalty","url":"\/19.2-392.15\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.15","metadata":false},{"id":61686,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.16","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Dissemination of criminal history records and traffic history records by business screening services","url":"\/19.2-392.16\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.16","metadata":false},{"id":80433,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.17","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Traffic infractions deemed sealed","url":"\/19.2-392.17\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.17","metadata":false},{"id":83552,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.5","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing defined; effect of sealing","url":"\/19.2-392.5\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.5","metadata":false},{"id":82865,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.6","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of offenses resulting in conviction","url":"\/19.2-392.6\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.6","metadata":false},{"id":86101,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.6:1","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of former possession of marijuana offenses without entry of a court order","url":"\/19.2-392.6_1\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.6_1","metadata":false},{"id":60343,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.7","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Process for automatic sealing of offenses resulting in a conviction or deferred disposition","url":"\/19.2-392.7\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.7","metadata":false},{"id":77668,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.8","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of offenses resulting in acquittal or dismissal","url":"\/19.2-392.8\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.8","metadata":false},{"id":67864,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.9","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/19.2-392.9\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":84075,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.13","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disposition of records when an offense is sealed; permitted uses of sealed records","url":"\/19.2-392.13\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.13","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":61027,"structure_id":15629,"section_number":"19.2-392.15","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Prohibited practices by employers, educational institutions, agencies, etc., of state and local governments; penalty","url":"\/19.2-392.15\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.15","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-392.14\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 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 2023, chapters 554<\/a> and 555<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 634<\/a> and 671<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":61686,"section_number":"19.2-392.16","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Dissemination of criminal history records and traffic history records by business screening services","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.16\/"},{"id":83552,"section_number":"19.2-392.5","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing defined; effect of sealing","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.5\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":71781,"section_number":"19.2-392.10","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Process for automatic sealing of offenses resulting in acquittal, nolle prosequi, or dismissal","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.10\/"},{"id":59687,"section_number":"19.2-392.11","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of misdemeanor offenses resulting in acquittal, nolle prosequi, or dismissal for persons with no convictions or deferred and dismissed offenses on their criminal history record","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.11\/"},{"id":74660,"section_number":"19.2-392.12","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.12\/"},{"id":76488,"section_number":"19.2-392.12:1","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of charges and convictions related to automatic sealing; petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.12_1\/"},{"id":84075,"section_number":"19.2-392.13","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disposition of records when an offense is sealed; permitted uses of sealed records","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.13\/"},{"id":80433,"section_number":"19.2-392.17","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Traffic infractions deemed sealed","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.17\/"},{"id":86101,"section_number":"19.2-392.6:1","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of former possession of marijuana offenses without entry of a court order","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.6_1\/"},{"id":60343,"section_number":"19.2-392.7","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Process for automatic sealing of offenses resulting in a conviction or deferred disposition","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.7\/"},{"id":77668,"section_number":"19.2-392.8","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of offenses resulting in acquittal or dismissal","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.8\/"},{"id":80755,"section_number":"9.1-128","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Dissemination of criminal history record information; Board to adopt regulations and procedures","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-128\/"}],"permalink":{"id":170551,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70011,"identifier":"19.2-392.14","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.14","url":"\/19.2-392.14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-392.14\/","token":"19.2\/23.2\/19.2-392.14","dublin_core":{"Title":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of sealed records; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-392.14","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It is unlawful for any employee of any department, division, board, bureau, commission, branch, authority, or other agency created by the Commonwealth, or to which the Commonwealth is a party<\/span> or any political subdivision thereof, having or acquiring access to sealed<\/span> criminal history record information or a court record, including any records relating to an arrest<\/span>, charge, or conviction<\/span>, that was ordered to be sealed<\/span> pursuant to § 19.2-392.7<\/a>, 19.2-392.8<\/a>, 19.2-392.10<\/a>, 19.2-392.11<\/a>, 19.2-392.12<\/a>, or 19.2-392.12:1<\/a>, or that was sealed<\/span> without entry of a court order<\/span> pursuant to § 19.2-392.6:1<\/a> or 19.2-392.17<\/a>, to disclose such record or any information from such record to another person, except in accordance with the purposes set forth in § 19.2-392.13<\/a> and pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to § 9.1-128<\/a> and the procedures adopted pursuant to § 9.1-134<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A clerk of the court shall not be in violation of this section if such clerk informs a person requesting access to a sealed<\/span> court record that such court record has been sealed<\/span> and can only be accessed pursuant to a court order<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any person who knowingly and intentionally violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\n(EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026) DISCLOSURE OF SEALED RECORDS; PENALTY (\u00a7 19.2-392.14)\n\nA. It is unlawful for any employee of any department, division, board, bureau,\ncommission, branch, authority, or other agency created by the Commonwealth, or\nto which the Commonwealth is a party or any political subdivision thereof,\nhaving or acquiring access to sealed criminal history record information or a\ncourt record, including any records relating to an arrest, charge, or\nconviction, that was ordered to be sealed pursuant to § 19.2-392.7,\n19.2-392.8, 19.2-392.10, 19.2-392.11, 19.2-392.12, or 19.2-392.12:1, or that was\nsealed without entry of a court order pursuant to § 19.2-392.6:1 or\n19.2-392.17, to disclose such record or any information from such record to\nanother person, except in accordance with the purposes set forth in §\n19.2-392.13 and pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to §\n9.1-128 and the procedures adopted pursuant to § 9.1-134.\n\nB. A clerk of the court shall not be in violation of this section if such clerk\ninforms a person requesting access to a sealed court record that such court\nrecord has been sealed and can only be accessed pursuant to a court order.\n\nC. Any person who knowingly and intentionally violates this section is guilty of\na Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 524, 542; 2023, cc. 554, 555; 2025, cc. 634,\n671.","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}}