Virginia is preparing for a major overhaul of criminal record handling under a new sealing statute, now set to take effect on July 1, 2026. The statute introduces automatic and petition-based sealing, new eligibility rules, and strict compliance requirements for courts, law enforcement, and businesses. In this article for Virginia Lawyer, Chuck Slemp highlights what attorneys, employers, and other stakeholders should know now — including the statute’s structure, limitations, and recent amendments — to ensure they’re prepared as the rollout approaches.

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