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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76628</law_id><section_number>2.2-3706</section_number><catch_line>(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of law-enforcement and criminal records; limitations</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-1713.1</reference><reference>19.2-368.3</reference><reference>2.2-3714</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="2.2">Administration of Government</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Administration of State Government</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="B">Transaction of Public Business</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="37">Virginia Freedom of Information Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Records required to be released. All <span class="dictionary">public bodies</span> engaged in criminal <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement activities shall provide the following records when requested in accordance with the provisions of this chapter: <a id="paragraph-275075" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Adult arrestee photographs taken during the initial intake following the <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> and as part of the routine booking procedure, except when necessary to avoid jeopardizing an investigation in <span class="dictionary">felony</span> cases until such time as the release of the photograph will no longer jeopardize the investigation; <a id="paragraph-275076" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Information relative to the identity of any individual, other than a juvenile, who is arrested and charged, and the status of the charge or <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>; and <a id="paragraph-275077" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Records of completed <span class="dictionary">unattended death</span> investigations to the parent or spouse of the decedent or, if there is no living parent or spouse, to the most <span class="dictionary">immediate family</span> member of the decedent, provided the person is not a person of interest or a suspect. For the purposes of this subdivision, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">unattended death</span>&#x201D; means a death determined to be a suicide, accidental or natural death where no criminal charges will be initiated, and &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">immediate family</span>&#x201D; means the decedent&#x2019;s personal representative or, if no personal representative has qualified, the decedent&#x2019;s next of kin in <span class="dictionary">order</span> of intestate succession as set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Course of descents generally; right of Commonwealth if no other heir" href="/64.2-200/">64.2-200</a>. <a id="paragraph-275078" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Discretionary releases. The following records are excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions of this chapter, but may be disclosed by the custodian, in his discretion, except where such disclosure is prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span>: <a id="paragraph-275079" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Criminal investigative files, defined as any documents and information, including complaints, <span class="dictionary">court orders</span>, memoranda, notes, diagrams, maps, photographs, correspondence, reports, <span class="dictionary">witness</span> statements, and <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, relating to a criminal investigation or <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> not required to be disclosed in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Disclosure of law-enforcement records; criminal incident information and certain criminal investigative files; limitations" href="/2.2-3706.1/">2.2-3706.1</a>; <a id="paragraph-275080" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Reports submitted in confidence to (i) state and local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agencies, (ii) investigators authorized pursuant to Chapter 3.2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/2.2-307/">2.2-307</a> et seq.), and (iii) campus police departments of public institutions of higher education established pursuant to Article 3 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Public institutions of higher education; establishment of campus police departments authorized; employment of officers" href="/23.1-809/">23.1-809</a> et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 23.1; <a id="paragraph-275081" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Records of local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agencies relating to neighborhood watch programs that include the names, addresses, and operating <span class="dictionary">schedules</span> of individual participants in the program that are provided to such agencies under a promise of anonymity; <a id="paragraph-275082" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> All records of persons imprisoned in penal institutions in the Commonwealth provided such records relate to the imprisonment; <a id="paragraph-275083" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Records of <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agencies, to the extent that such records contain specific tactical plans, the disclosure of which would jeopardize the safety or security of <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement personnel or the general public; <a id="paragraph-275084" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> All records of adult persons under (i) investigation or supervision by a local <span class="dictionary">pretrial services</span> agency in accordance with Article 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Purpose; establishment of pretrial services and services agencies" href="/19.2-152.2/">19.2-152.2</a> et seq.) of Chapter 9 of Title 19.2; (ii) investigation, <span class="dictionary">probation</span> supervision, or monitoring by a local community-based <span class="dictionary">probation</span> services agency in accordance with Article 9 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Purpose" href="/9.1-173/">9.1-173</a> et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 9.1; or (iii) investigation or supervision by state <span class="dictionary">probation</span> and <span class="dictionary">parole</span> services in accordance with Article 2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Division into probation and parole districts" href="/53.1-141/">53.1-141</a> et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 53.1; <a id="paragraph-275085" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Records of a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency to the extent that they disclose the telephone numbers for cellular telephones, pagers, or comparable portable communication devices provided to its personnel for use in the performance of their official duties; <a id="paragraph-275086" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Those portions of any records containing information related to undercover operations or protective details that would reveal the staffing, logistics, or tactical plans of such undercover operations or protective details. Nothing in this subdivision shall operate to allow the withholding of information concerning the overall costs or expenses associated with undercover operations or protective details; <a id="paragraph-275087" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Records of (i) background investigations of applicants for <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency employment, (ii) administrative investigations relating to <span class="dictionary">allegations</span> of wrongdoing by employees of a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency, and (iii) other administrative investigations conducted by <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agencies that are made confidential by <span class="dictionary">law</span>; <a id="paragraph-275088" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> The identity of any victim, <span class="dictionary">witness</span>, or undercover officer, or investigative techniques or procedures. However, the identity of any victim or <span class="dictionary">witness</span> shall be withheld if disclosure is prohibited or restricted under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Crime victim's right to nondisclosure of certain information; exceptions; testimonial privilege" href="/19.2-11.2/">19.2-11.2</a>; and <a id="paragraph-275089" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Records of the Sex Offender and <span class="dictionary">Crimes</span> Against <span class="dictionary">Minors</span> Registry maintained by the Department of State Police pursuant to Chapter 9 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Purpose of the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry" href="/9.1-900/">9.1-900</a> et seq.) of Title 9.1, including information obtained from state, local, and regional officials, except to the extent that information is required to be posted on the Internet pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Public dissemination by means of the Internet" href="/9.1-913/">9.1-913</a>. <a id="paragraph-275090" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#B11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Prohibited releases. The following records shall not be disclosed under the provisions of this chapter: <a id="paragraph-275091" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The identity of any individual providing information about a <span class="dictionary">crime</span> or criminal activity under a promise of anonymity; <a id="paragraph-275092" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Any record that has been expunged pursuant to &#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>, unless dissemination is authorized pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disclosure of expunged records" href="/19.2-392.3/">19.2-392.3</a> or <a class="law" title="Motion for the disclosure of expunged police and court records in a civil case" href="/19.2-392.3_1/">19.2-392.3:1</a>; and <a id="paragraph-275093" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Any record that has been <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of former possession of marijuana offenses without entry of a court order" href="/19.2-392.6_1/">19.2-392.6:1</a>, <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Process for automatic sealing of offenses resulting in a conviction or deferred disposition" href="/19.2-392.7/">19.2-392.7</a>, <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Automatic sealing of offenses resulting in acquittal or dismissal" href="/19.2-392.8/">19.2-392.8</a>, <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Process for automatic sealing of offenses resulting in acquittal, nolle prosequi, or dismissal" href="/19.2-392.10/">19.2-392.10</a>, <a class="law" title="(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" href="/19.2-392.11/">19.2-392.11</a>, <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition" href="/19.2-392.12/">19.2-392.12</a>, <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of charges and convictions related to automatic sealing; petition" href="/19.2-392.12_1/">19.2-392.12:1</a>, or <a class="law" title="(Effective July 1, 2026) Traffic infractions deemed sealed" href="/19.2-392.17/">19.2-392.17</a>, unless dissemination is authorized pursuant to &#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 the 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 the 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-275094" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Noncriminal records. <span class="dictionary">Public bodies</span> (i) engaged in <span class="dictionary">emergency</span> medical services, (ii) engaged in fire protection services, (iii) engaged in criminal <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement activities, or (iv) engaged in processing calls for service or other communications to an <span class="dictionary">emergency</span> 911 system or any other equivalent reporting system may withhold those portions of noncriminal incident or other noncriminal investigative reports or <span class="dictionary">materials</span> that contain identifying information of a personal, medical, or financial nature where the release of such information would jeopardize the safety or privacy of any person. Access to personnel records of persons employed by a <span class="dictionary">public body</span> engaged in <span class="dictionary">emergency</span> medical services or fire protection services, a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency, or an <span class="dictionary">emergency</span> 911 system or any other equivalent reporting system shall be governed by the provisions of subdivision B 9 and subdivision 1 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exclusions to application of chapter; exclusions of general application to public bodies" href="/2.2-3705.1/">2.2-3705.1</a>, as applicable. <a id="paragraph-275095" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Records of any call for service or other communication to an <span class="dictionary">emergency</span> 911 system or communicated with any other equivalent reporting system shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-275096" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Conflict resolution. In the event of conflict between this section as it relates to requests made under this section and other provisions of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, this section shall control. <a id="paragraph-275097" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/2.2-3706/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1999, cc. 703, 726, &#xA7; 2.1-342.2; 2000, c. 227; 2001, c. 844; 2002, cc. 393, 715, 769, 830; 2004, cc. 685, 735; 2006, cc. 857, 914; 2007, c. 133; 2010, c. 627; 2011, cc. 798, 871; 2013, c. 695; 2016, cc. 184, 546; 2017, c. 828; 2018, c. 48; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 483; 2023, c. 420; 2025, cc. 634, 671.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
