{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/52-8.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/52-8.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/52-8.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/52-8.3.html"}],"law_id":75655,"edition_id":1,"section_id":75655,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.3","catch_line":"Disclosure of criminal investigative records and reports; penalty","history":"1981, c. 238; 1999, cc. 703, 726; 2004, c. 690.","full_text":"Any person employed by a law-enforcement agency or other governmental agency within the Commonwealth who has or has had access in an official capacity to an official written record or report submitted in confidence to the Department of State Police relating to an ongoing criminal investigation, and who uses or knowingly permits another to use such record or report for any purpose not consistent with the record exclusions permitted in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (\u00a7 2.2-3700 et seq.), or other provision of state law, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.\n\t\tThe provisions of this section shall not be construed to impede or prohibit full access to information concerning the existence of any criminal investigation or to other verbal disclosures permitted by state police operating procedures.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":271691,"text":"Any person employed by a law-enforcement agency or other governmental agency within the Commonwealth who has or has had access in an official capacity to an official written record or report submitted in confidence to the Department of State Police relating to an ongoing criminal investigation, and who uses or knowingly permits another to use such record or report for any purpose not consistent with the record exclusions permitted in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (\u00a7 2.2-3700 et seq.), or other provision of state law, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.\n\t\tThe provisions of this section shall not be construed to impede or prohibit full access to information concerning the existence of any criminal investigation or to other verbal disclosures permitted by state police operating procedures.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":12842,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department of State Police","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12841,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":237129,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12842,"identifier":"1","token":"52\/1","url":"\/52\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12841,"edition_id":1,"name":"Police (State)","identifier":"52","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":237127,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12841,"identifier":"52","token":"52","url":"\/52\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":53988,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-1","catch_line":"Establishment of Department headed by Superintendent; Bureau of Criminal Investigation and division of drug law enforcement and investigation within Department","url":"\/52-1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-1","metadata":false},{"id":78435,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-10","catch_line":"Fees and rewards","url":"\/52-10\/","token":"52\/1\/52-10","metadata":false},{"id":58622,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11","catch_line":"Defense of police officers","url":"\/52-11\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11","metadata":false},{"id":62756,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.1","catch_line":"State Health Commissioner to cooperate","url":"\/52-11.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.1","metadata":false},{"id":54720,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.2","catch_line":"Services of State Police in areas of counties that have merged, consolidated or been annexed into cities","url":"\/52-11.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.2","metadata":false},{"id":71329,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.3","catch_line":"Acquisition of military property","url":"\/52-11.3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.3","metadata":false},{"id":85646,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.4","catch_line":"Disposal of unclaimed property in the possession of State Police; exemption from the Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act","url":"\/52-11.4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.4","metadata":false},{"id":69293,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.5","catch_line":"Disposal of unclaimed firearms or other weapons in possession of the State Police","url":"\/52-11.5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.5","metadata":false},{"id":85896,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-11.6","catch_line":"Arrest or summons quota prohibited","url":"\/52-11.6\/","token":"52\/1\/52-11.6","metadata":false},{"id":84651,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-2","catch_line":"Appointment of Superintendent and term of office","url":"\/52-2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-2","metadata":false},{"id":67155,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-3","catch_line":"Oath, bond, and salary of Superintendent","url":"\/52-3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-3","metadata":false},{"id":69512,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4","catch_line":"Functions of Department","url":"\/52-4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4","metadata":false},{"id":66390,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/52-4.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.1","metadata":false},{"id":70719,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.2","catch_line":"Department of Motor Vehicles to publish statistical information, and conduct research and experiments; copies to be furnished by Department to Commonwealth's attorneys","url":"\/52-4.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.2","metadata":false},{"id":66900,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.3","catch_line":"Drug Investigation Special Trust Account","url":"\/52-4.3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.3","metadata":false},{"id":86808,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.4","catch_line":"Duties relating to criminal history record information checks required by licensed firearms dealers","url":"\/52-4.4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.4","metadata":false},{"id":62142,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-4.5","catch_line":"(Effective until July 1, 2026) Facial recognition technology; authorized uses; Department to establish a State Police Model Facial Recognition Technology Policy; penalty","url":"\/52-4.5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-4.5","metadata":false},{"id":80206,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-5","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/52-5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-5","metadata":false},{"id":74557,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-6","catch_line":"Appointment of additional police officers","url":"\/52-6\/","token":"52\/1\/52-6","metadata":false},{"id":60004,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-6.1","catch_line":"Appointment of supervisory officers","url":"\/52-6.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-6.1","metadata":false},{"id":72935,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-7","catch_line":"Bonds of police officers; liability insurance policies","url":"\/52-7\/","token":"52\/1\/52-7","metadata":false},{"id":55301,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8","catch_line":"Powers and duties to enforce criminal laws and investigate aircraft accidents","url":"\/52-8\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8","metadata":false},{"id":84077,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.1","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Bureau of Criminal Investigation","url":"\/52-8.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.1","metadata":false},{"id":76643,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.1:1","catch_line":"Powers and duties of a drug law enforcement and investigation division","url":"\/52-8.1_1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":63803,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.2","catch_line":"Certain investigations of elected officials; immunity for witnesses","url":"\/52-8.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.2","metadata":false},{"id":75655,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.3","catch_line":"Disclosure of criminal investigative records and reports; penalty","url":"\/52-8.3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.3","metadata":false},{"id":68439,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.4","catch_line":"Powers and duties to promulgate regulations; inspection of certain records","url":"\/52-8.4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.4","metadata":false},{"id":83212,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.4:1","catch_line":"Regulations for firearms shows","url":"\/52-8.4_1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.4_1","metadata":false},{"id":76234,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.4:2","catch_line":"Certain offenses to be considered traffic infractions","url":"\/52-8.4_2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.4_2","metadata":false},{"id":73991,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.5","catch_line":"Reporting hate crimes","url":"\/52-8.5\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.5","metadata":false},{"id":63033,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.6","catch_line":"Criminal street gang reporting","url":"\/52-8.6\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.6","metadata":false},{"id":82197,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9","catch_line":"Administration of oaths; acknowledgments and affidavits; summoning witnesses in certain cases","url":"\/52-9\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9","metadata":false},{"id":61863,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9.1","catch_line":"Distinctive uniform to be adopted for State police officers","url":"\/52-9.1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9.1","metadata":false},{"id":84664,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9.1:1","catch_line":"Retired and former law-enforcement officers; retention of badge","url":"\/52-9.1_1\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9.1_1","metadata":false},{"id":80886,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-9.2","catch_line":"Wearing of same or similar uniforms by other persons","url":"\/52-9.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-9.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63803,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.2","catch_line":"Certain investigations of elected officials; immunity for witnesses","url":"\/52-8.2\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.2","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68439,"structure_id":12842,"section_number":"52-8.4","catch_line":"Powers and duties to promulgate regulations; inspection of certain records","url":"\/52-8.4\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.4","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/52-8.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1981. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 238 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. Unfortunately, the 1981 \u201cActs\u201d aren\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 1999, chapters 703<\/a> and 726<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 690<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":55569,"section_number":"2.2-3700","catch_line":"Short title; policy","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3700\/"}],"permalink":{"id":237231,"object_type":"law","relational_id":75655,"identifier":"52-8.3","token":"52\/1\/52-8.3","url":"\/52-8.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/52-8.3\/","token":"52\/1\/52-8.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Disclosure of criminal investigative records and reports; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 52-8.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any person employed by a law<\/span>-enforcement agency or other governmental agency within the Commonwealth who has or has had access in an official capacity to an official written record or report submitted in confidence to the Department of State Police relating to an ongoing criminal investigation, and who uses or knowingly permits another to use such record or report for any purpose not consistent with the record exclusions permitted in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (\u00a7 2.2-3700<\/a> et seq.), or other provision of state law<\/span>, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor<\/span>.\n\t\tThe provisions of this section shall not be construed to impede or prohibit full access to information concerning the existence of any criminal investigation or to other verbal disclosures permitted by state police operating procedures.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE RECORDS AND REPORTS; PENALTY (\u00a7 52-8.3)\n\nAny person employed by a law-enforcement agency or other governmental agency\nwithin the Commonwealth who has or has had access in an official capacity to an\nofficial written record or report submitted in confidence to the Department of\nState Police relating to an ongoing criminal investigation, and who uses or\nknowingly permits another to use such record or report for any purpose not\nconsistent with the record exclusions permitted in the Virginia Freedom of\nInformation Act (\u00a7 2.2-3700 et seq.), or other provision of state law, shall be\nguilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.\n\t\tThe provisions of this section shall not be construed to impede or prohibit\nfull access to information concerning the existence of any criminal\ninvestigation or to other verbal disclosures permitted by state police operating\nprocedures.\n\nHISTORY: 1981, c. 238; 1999, cc. 703, 726; 2004, c. 690.","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}}