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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82939</law_id><section_number>19.2-298.02</section_number><catch_line>Deferred disposition in a criminal case</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-69.48:1</reference><reference>17.1-275.1</reference><reference>17.1-275.2</reference><reference>17.1-275.7</reference><reference>19.2-298.01</reference><reference>19.2-303.4</reference><reference>19.2-335</reference><reference>19.2-336</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="18">Sentence; Judgment; Execution of Sentence</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">trial</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> presiding in a criminal case may, with the agreement of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> and the Commonwealth, after any <span class="dictionary">plea</span> or <span class="dictionary">trial</span>, with or without a determination, <span class="dictionary">finding</span>, or pronouncement of guilt, and notwithstanding the entry of a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> order, upon consideration of the <span class="dictionary">facts</span> and circumstances of the case, including (i) mitigating factors relating to the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> or the <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, (ii) the request of the victim, or (iii) any other appropriate factors, defer proceedings, defer entry of a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> order, if none, or defer entry of a <span class="dictionary">final order</span>, and continue the case for final <span class="dictionary">disposition</span>, on such reasonable terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the parties and placed on the record, or if there is no agreement, as may be imposed by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. Final <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> may include (a) <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of the original charge, (b) <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of an alternative charge, or (c) <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span> of the proceedings. <a id="paragraph-297260" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-298.02/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Upon violation of a term or condition, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may enter an adjudication of guilt, if not already entered, and make any final <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of the case provided by subsection A. Upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">adjudicate</span> the matter consistent with the agreement of the parties or, if none, by <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of an alternative charge or <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span> of the case. <a id="paragraph-297261" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-298.02/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> By consenting to and receiving a deferral of proceedings or a deferral of entry of a <span class="dictionary">final order</span> of guilt and fulfilling the conditions as specified by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> as provided by subsection A, the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> <span class="dictionary">waives</span> his right to <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> such entry of a <span class="dictionary">final order</span> of guilt.
			Prior to granting a deferral of proceedings, a deferral of entry of a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> order, if none, or a deferral of a <span class="dictionary">final order</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall notify the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> that he would be waiving his rights to <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> any <span class="dictionary">final order</span> of guilt if such deferral is granted. <a id="paragraph-297262" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-298.02/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Upon agreement of all parties, a charge that is dismissed pursuant to this section, including an original charge that was reduced or a charge that is dismissed after a <span class="dictionary">plea</span> or <span class="dictionary">stipulation</span> of the <span class="dictionary">facts</span> that would justify a <span class="dictionary">finding</span> of guilt, may be considered as otherwise dismissed for purposes of expungement of police and <span class="dictionary">court</span> records in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Expungement of police and court records" href="/19.2-392.2/">19.2-392.2</a>, and such agreement of all parties and expungement eligibility may be indicated in the final <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> order. <a id="paragraph-297263" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-298.02/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 20, 21; 2024, c. 755.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
