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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>60343</law_id><section_number>19.2-392.7</section_number><catch_line>(Effective July 1, 2026) Process for automatic sealing of offenses resulting in a conviction or deferred disposition</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>17.1-293.1</reference><reference>17.1-502</reference><reference>19.2-310.7</reference><reference>19.2-392.12:1</reference><reference>19.2-392.13</reference><reference>19.2-392.14</reference><reference>19.2-392.16</reference><reference>19.2-392.5</reference><reference>19.2-392.6</reference><reference>2.2-3706</reference><reference>2.2-3706.1</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="23.2">Sealing of Criminal History Record Information and Court Records</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> On at least a monthly basis, the Department of State Police shall electronically determine which <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> with an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> date on or after January 1, 1986, in the Central Criminal Records Exchange meet the criteria for automatic sealing set forth in subsections A, B, and C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of offenses resulting in conviction" href="/19.2-392.6/">19.2-392.6</a>. <a id="paragraph-220688" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.7/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> After reviewing the <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> under subsection A, the Department of State Police shall provide an electronic list of all <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> that meet the criteria for automatic sealing set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of offenses resulting in conviction" href="/19.2-392.6/">19.2-392.6</a> to the Executive Secretary of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> and to any <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> clerk who maintains a case management system that interfaces with the Department of State Police under subsection B1 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Administrator of circuit court system" href="/17.1-502/">17.1-502</a>. The Department of State Police shall not be required to include an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> on such list if (i) it cannot be determined by an electronic review whether the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> is eligible for automatic sealing or (ii) an electronic review of the person&#x2019;s criminal history record indicates that the person was charged with violating the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of any other state, the District of Columbia, the United States or any territory thereof, excluding traffic infractions under Title 46.2, during the seven-year time period set forth in subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of offenses resulting in conviction" href="/19.2-392.6/">19.2-392.6</a>. <a id="paragraph-220689" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.7/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Upon receipt of the electronic list from the Department of State Police provided under subsection B, on at least a monthly basis the Executive Secretary of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> shall provide an electronic list of all <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> that meet the criteria for automatic sealing set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of offenses resulting in conviction" href="/19.2-392.6/">19.2-392.6</a> to the clerk of each <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> in the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> where the case was finalized, if such <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> clerk participates in the case management system maintained by the Executive Secretary. <a id="paragraph-220690" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.7/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Upon receipt of the electronic list provided under subsection B or C, on at least a monthly basis the clerk of each <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall prepare an <span class="dictionary">order</span> and the <span class="dictionary">chief judge</span> or presiding judge of that <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall enter such <span class="dictionary">order</span> directing that the <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> that meet the criteria for automatic sealing set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of offenses resulting in conviction" href="/19.2-392.6/">19.2-392.6</a> be automatically <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> under the process described in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Disposition of records when an offense is sealed; permitted uses of sealed records" href="/19.2-392.13/">19.2-392.13</a>. Such <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall contain the names of the persons charged with or convicted of such <span class="dictionary">offenses</span>. The clerk of each <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall maintain a copy of all <span class="dictionary">orders</span> entered pursuant to this subsection under seal. <a id="paragraph-220691" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.7/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The clerk of each <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall provide an electronic notification of any <span class="dictionary">order</span> entered under subsection D to the Department of State Police on at least a monthly basis. Upon receipt of such electronic notification, the Department of State Police shall proceed as set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Disposition of records when an offense is sealed; permitted uses of sealed records" href="/19.2-392.13/">19.2-392.13</a>. <a id="paragraph-220692" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.7/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">order</span> to seal issued pursuant to this section shall be <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> and may only be disseminated for the purposes set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Disposition of records when an offense is sealed; permitted uses of sealed records" href="/19.2-392.13/">19.2-392.13</a> and pursuant to rules and regulations adopted pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Dissemination of criminal history record information; Board to adopt regulations and procedures" href="/9.1-128/">9.1-128</a> and procedures adopted pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of criminal history record information" href="/9.1-134/">9.1-134</a>. <a id="paragraph-220693" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.7/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> If an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> is automatically <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> contrary to <span class="dictionary">law</span>, the automatic sealing of that particular <span class="dictionary">offense</span> shall be voidable upon <span class="dictionary">motion</span> and notice made within two years of the entry of the <span class="dictionary">order</span> to automatically seal such <span class="dictionary">offense</span>. <a id="paragraph-220694" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-392.7/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 524, 542; 2023, cc. 554, 555; 2025, cc. 634, 671.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
