Virginia Allows Criminal Records to Be Sealed for First Time in Commonwealth’s History

Virginia allows criminal records to be sealed for first time in Commonwealth’s history

For the first time in Virginia’s history, people with past convictions will be able to have their record sealed from public view. Virginia’s General Assembly passed the record-sealing law in 2021, and now, an amended version is set to take effect July 1, 2026. Under the new law, a person with a misdemeanor or low-level felony conviction will be able to have their record sealed from public view — meaning the conviction would not show up on backgr…

New Virginia clean slate law will create high demand for legal aid, experts say

RICHMOND — A new “clean slate” law set to take effect next year will shield some past crimes from public viewing. Advocates say that matters for people whose convictions haunt them for years after they’ve served their time.  And legal experts say there’s much to be done to prepare for the influx of people who will want to have their previous convictions sealed. Attorney Scott Surovell, a Democratic state senator representing Fairfax, said people…