A criminal record can continue to affect a person long after a case has ended. In Virginia, individuals who were charged with certain offenses but were not convicted may have the opportunity to pursue expungement of their records. Expungement allows eligible individuals to remove certain criminal records from public access.
The expungement process generally involves filing a petition with the court requesting that the record be removed. Courts may consider factors such as the outcome of the case and the circumstances surrounding the arrest when determining whether expungement should be granted.
If an expungement petition is approved, the record may no longer appear in many background checks conducted by employers, landlords, or other institutions. For individuals who qualify, this process can provide an opportunity to move forward without the ongoing impact of a past arrest or criminal case.