Virginia Code § 19.2-392.12 (passed into law in 2021 and will be effective July 1, 2025) provides for certain convictions to be sealed by petition. A petition is a legal document that asks a court to order some action. Petition-based sealing generally describes the process whereby an individual petitions a court to have their criminal record sealed and the court determines whether to grant or deny the sealing petition.

Virginia Code § 19.2-392.12 allows grand larceny (and felonies deemed punishable as grand larceny) and most Class 5 and 6 felonies to be sealed by petition.

All of the FELONIES below qualify to be sealed under Virginia Code Section 19.2-392.12:

• Possession of narcotics
• Grand Larceny
• Credit Card Theft
• Receiving or Buying Stolen Goods
• Embezzlement
• Larceny of Bank Notes
• Forgery
• Unauthorized Use of Vehicle
• Obtaining Money by False Pretenses
• Perjury
• Shooting from Vehicle
• Larceny with Intent to Sell
• Assault on Law Enforcement

The list of felonies that can be sealed is extensive, these are just examples. Contact Clean Slate Virginia to see if you are eligible to have your conviction sealed.

Also, first offender drug cases that were dismissed can be sealed. Prior to Virginia’s 2021 record sealing legislation, if you successfully completed the drug first offender program, your charge was dismissed; however, the charge remained on your record forever. Virginia’s new record sealing legislation allows first offender charges to be sealed so most employers and the public can no longer see the conviction.