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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>69961</law_id><section_number>53.1-231</section_number><catch_line>Investigation of cases for executive clemency by Parole Board</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="53.1">Prisons and Other Methods of Correction</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="12">Executive Clemency</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The Virginia <span class="dictionary">Parole</span> <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall, at the request of the Governor, investigate and report to the Governor on cases in which executive clemency is sought. In any other case in which it believes action on the part of the Governor is proper or in the best interest of the Commonwealth, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may investigate and report to the Governor with its recommendations. <a id="paragraph-252772" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Upon request by the Virginia <span class="dictionary">Parole</span> <span class="dictionary">Board</span> related to an investigation and report conducted pursuant to this section and except to the extent otherwise permitted by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, all public bodies engaged in criminal <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement activities shall provide copies of the following records: <a id="paragraph-252773" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Unredacted criminal investigative files, defined as any documents and information including complaints, <span class="dictionary">court orders</span>, memoranda, notes, incident reports, officers&#x2019; field summary reports, diagrams, maps, photographs, video recordings, audio recordings, correspondence, narrative reports, <span class="dictionary">witness</span> statements, victim statements, the identification of witnesses and victims and their personal identifying information, <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> files, photo <span class="dictionary">lineups</span>, and <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> relating to a criminal investigation or <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> regardless of the juvenile status of the victim, <span class="dictionary">witness</span>, or suspect; <a id="paragraph-252774" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> An attorney for the Commonwealth&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> files; <a id="paragraph-252775" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Records of any call for service or other communication to an emergency 911 system or communication with any other equivalent reporting system; <a id="paragraph-252776" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Adult and juvenile arrestee photographs taken during the initial intake following the <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> and as part of the routine booking procedure; <a id="paragraph-252777" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Information relative to the identity of any individual, to include a juvenile and his personal identifying information, who is arrested and charged, and the status of the charge or <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>; and <a id="paragraph-252778" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> <span class="dictionary">Sealed</span> presentence investigation reports. <a id="paragraph-252779" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, records of any general district court, juvenile and domestic relations district court, or <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court and the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Forensic Science shall be subject to the provisions of this section. <a id="paragraph-252780" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Records requested from any public body engaged in criminal <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement activities, including any court or state or local government agency, pursuant to this section shall be provided to the Virginia <span class="dictionary">Parole</span> <span class="dictionary">Board</span> at no cost. <a id="paragraph-252781" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The public body must respond to a request for records made pursuant to this section within 30 working days of receiving the request. If it is not practically possible to provide the requested records or to determine whether they are available within 30 days, such response shall specify the conditions that make a response impossible and the amount of additional time needed to satisfy the request. <a id="paragraph-252782" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Records obtained pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be excluded from mandatory public disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; policy" href="/2.2-3700/">2.2-3700</a> et seq.) as working papers and correspondence of the Office of the Governor pursuant to subdivision 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exclusions to application of chapter; records of specific public bodies and certain other limited exclusions" href="/2.2-3705.7/">2.2-3705.7</a>. <a id="paragraph-252783" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/53.1-231/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 53-229; 1970, c. 648; 1982, c. 636; 2025, c. 12.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
