Virginia legislation · 2027 Regular Session
Virginia SB847: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-327.15 through 19.2-327.19 and 19.2-392.12 of the Code of Virginia, relating to writ of vacatur for victims of human trafficking or ongoing domestic violence; sealing.
Status: In committee, October 26, 2026
Issuance of vacatur for victims of human trafficking or ongoing domestic violence ; sealing. Expands the current process for the issuance of writs of vacatur for victims of human trafficking to include victims of ongoing domestic violence, defined in the bill, and any charge or arrest related to a qualifying offense as defined in current law. The bill also permits sealing of such writ and the record of the proceedings.
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §§ 19.2-327.15 through 19.2-327.19 and 19.2-392.12 of the Code of Virginia, relating to writ of vacatur for victims of human trafficking or ongoing domestic violence; sealing. ---------- Patron--Locke ---------- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice ---------- 1. That §§ 19.2-327.15 through 19.2-327.19 and 19.2-392.12 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows: CHAPTER 19.4. ISSUANCE OF WRIT OF VACATUR FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR ONGOING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. § 19.2-327.15. Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context require.
From the introduced text, October 26, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 19.2-327.15 through 19.2-327.19 and 19.2-392.12 of the Code of Virginia, relating to writ of vacatur for victims of human trafficking or ongoing domestic violence; sealing. ---------- Patron--Locke ---------- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice ---------- 1. That §§ 19.2-327.15 through 19.2-327.19 and 19.2-392.12 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows: CHAPTER 19.4. ISSUANCE OF WRIT OF VACATUR FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR ONGOING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. § 19.2-327.15. Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different (ii) violation or alleged violation of contempt of court; (iii) charge or conviction for failure to appear; or (iv) appeal from a bail, bond, or recognizance order related to a qualifying offense. "Labor trafficking" means the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to debt bondage, involuntary servitude, peonage, or slavery. "Ongoing domestic violence" means the ongoing occurrence of domestic violence as that term is defined in § 38.2-508. "Official documentation" means any documentation issued by a federal, state, or local agency, a multidisciplinary team or task force, a licensed psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker, or an otherwise qualified subject matter expert. "Qualifying offense" means any attempted, completed, …