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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84043</law_id><section_number>19.2-327.17</section_number><catch_line>Contents and form of the petition for vacatur</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>19.2-327.18</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="19.4">Issuance of Writ of Vacatur for Victims of Human Trafficking</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any victim of human trafficking may file a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for vacatur setting forth the relevant <span class="dictionary">facts</span> and requesting that the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> or adjudication of delinquency be vacated. Such <span class="dictionary">petition</span> shall allege categorically and with specificity, under <span class="dictionary">oath</span>, all of the following: <a id="paragraph-301185" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-327.17/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The petitioner was convicted or adjudicated delinquent of a qualifying <span class="dictionary">offense</span>, including the date on which the qualifying <span class="dictionary">offense</span> occurred, the date of final <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> on which the <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> or adjudication of delinquency was entered, the petitioner&#x2019;s date of birth, and the full name used by the petitioner at the time of the <span class="dictionary">offense</span>; <a id="paragraph-301186" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-327.17/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The petitioner was a victim of human trafficking at the time he committed the qualifying <span class="dictionary">offense</span> and his status as a victim of human trafficking was the proximate cause of the commission of the qualifying <span class="dictionary">offense</span>; and <a id="paragraph-301187" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-327.17/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Whether the petitioner has previously filed any other <span class="dictionary">petition</span> in accordance with this chapter in any <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> and, if so, the <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of such <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. <a id="paragraph-301188" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-327.17/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Such <span class="dictionary">petition</span> shall contain all relevant <span class="dictionary">allegations</span> of <span class="dictionary">facts</span> that are known to the petitioner at the time of filing, which shall include a short, plain statement demonstrating (i) that the petitioner is entitled to relief under this chapter; (ii) the identity of the human trafficker, to the best of the petitioner&#x2019;s knowledge; (iii) the approximate date, time, place, and manner in which the petitioner became a victim of human trafficking; (iv) the petitioner&#x2019;s age at the time he became a victim of human trafficking; (v) how the petitioner became involved in the activities resulting in his <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span>, and <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> or adjudication; and (vi) that the petitioner has ceased to be a victim of human trafficking or has sought rehabilitative services. Such statement shall be filed under seal and provided only to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> and the attorney for the Commonwealth of the city or county in which the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> is filed. The attorney for the Commonwealth may provide the information provided in such statement, with the exception of the petitioner&#x2019;s identity, to any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency to investigate or <span class="dictionary">prosecute</span> criminal activity. The identity of the petitioner shall only be provided to <span class="dictionary">law</span> enforcement upon notice to the petitioner and an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> authorizing such disclosure. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to <span class="dictionary">mandate</span> a petitioner&#x2019;s cooperation with <span class="dictionary">law</span> enforcement in any resulting investigation or <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span>.
			The <span class="dictionary">petition</span> shall be filed on a form provided by the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span>. If the petitioner fails to submit a completed form, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> may allow the petitioner to <span class="dictionary">amend</span> the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> to correct any deficiency. If the petitioner fails to submit a completed form containing the <span class="dictionary">allegations</span> set forth in subsection A, or if the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> has previously dismissed a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for vacatur from the same petitioner for the same qualifying <span class="dictionary">offense</span> following a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> conducted pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Hearing on petition for vacatur" href="/19.2-327.18/">19.2-327.18</a>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may dismiss the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. Any false statement in the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, if such statement is knowingly or willfully made, shall be a ground for <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> of <span class="dictionary">perjury</span> as provided for in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="What deemed perjury; punishment and penalty" href="/18.2-434/">18.2-434</a>. <a id="paragraph-301189" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-327.17/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The petitioner shall obtain from a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency one complete set of the petitioner&#x2019;s fingerprints and shall file those fingerprints with the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> with the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. <a id="paragraph-301190" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-327.17/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The Commonwealth shall be made <span class="dictionary">party</span> <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> to the proceeding. The petitioner shall provide a copy of the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> by delivery or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the attorney for the Commonwealth of the city or county in which the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> is filed. The attorney for the Commonwealth may file an objection or answer to the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> or may give written notice to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> that he does not <span class="dictionary">object</span> to the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> within 30 days after receipt of the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. Upon the <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of the attorney for the Commonwealth and for good cause shown, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may allow the attorney for the Commonwealth up to an additional 30 days to respond to the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>. <a id="paragraph-301191" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-327.17/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A person convicted or adjudicated delinquent of multiple qualifying <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> shall include all qualifying <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> in one <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, if such <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> or adjudications were all entered in the same city or county. A person convicted or adjudicated delinquent of qualifying <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> in different cities or counties shall file <span class="dictionary">petitions</span> in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">courts</span> of the cities or counties in which the <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> or adjudications of delinquency were entered. <a id="paragraph-301192" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-327.17/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 543; 2025, cc. 633, 663.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
