OPINION:
At a time when political division often feels like the norm, Virginia has quietly achieved something extraordinary: a bipartisan agreement on criminal justice reform that will improve thousands of lives.
Set to take effect on July 1, 2026, Virginia’s Clean Slate Law represents one of the most significant shifts in the commonwealth’s approach to criminal justice in decades. For the first time in its history, Virginia will allow certain criminal convictions to be sealed from public view, giving people who have paid their debt to society a real opportunity to rebuild their lives.
Virginia’s Clean Slate Law was initially passed in 2021 under a Democratic governor and set to be enacted in 2025 under a Republican governor. The law laid out the vision for automatic and petition-based record sealing and required substantial investment in court and law enforcement systems before implementation could begin.
What makes this legislation even more remarkable is how it came to be. In today’s polarized political climate, few issues unite lawmakers across the aisle. Yet Virginia’s Clean Slate Law emerged as a powerful exception, earning broad bipartisan support not once but twice.
During the 2025 legislative session, the law was amended, this time under a Republican governor. Once again, the legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, a testament to the shared truth that a criminal conviction should not be a permanent barrier to employment, housing, education or full participation in society. This unique legislative journey underscores the broad support for giving Virginians a second chance through criminal record sealing. It highlights the shared commitment across party lines to meaningful criminal justice reform.
The law strikes a careful balance between redemption and responsibility. Violent offenses are ineligible for sealing, and people seeking to seal their records must complete a waiting period without new convictions. For thousands of Virginians, especially those convicted of low-level, nonviolent offenses, this law offers a path forward to economic security and full participation in civic life.
Research from other states that have implemented similar clean slate policies, such as Pennsylvania, Utah and Michigan, shows that sealing criminal records leads to increased employment and earnings while reducing recidivism. A Michigan study found that people who had their records sealed received an average 23% wage increase within the first year after record clearance. At the same time, recidivism rates among those individuals dropped significantly.
Virginia’s Clean Slate Law also opens opportunities for people to pursue higher education without the burden of a criminal record. Those with criminal records face high barriers to college admissions and financial aid, further preventing them from achieving higher-paying jobs and improved social standing. With access to record sealing, thousands of Virginians will have the chance to pursue college degrees and the opportunity for better jobs and stability.
The logic is simple: When people can work, support their families and find housing, they are less likely to reoffend. Public safety improves. The workforce grows. Tax revenue increases. Communities become more stable and resilient.
This is a win for employers, especially in sectors facing chronic labor shortages. Virginia’s Clean Slate Law will open access to a talent pool previously sidelined by outdated barriers. Talented, qualified individuals who were once automatically disqualified from job consideration will now have a fair chance to compete based on their present character, not their past mistakes.
More important, this law reflects a growing national consensus: that our justice system should be not only about punishment but also about opportunity. It recognizes that redemption is not just a personal journey; it’s a societal investment.
In an era when so much of our discourse is defined by division, Virginia’s Clean Slate Law reminds us that common ground still exists. It is a testament to what’s possible when prioritizing facts over fear and people over politics.
Let this be a model for other states and nations looking to promote public safety, strengthen economies and restore dignity to those seeking a second chance. Virginia has rewritten more than just criminal records; it has rewritten the future for thousands of its residents. Virginia has always been for lovers, and now it is for second chances.
• George Townsend is a criminal defense lawyer and the founder of Clean Slate Virginia.
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