Virginia

Number of Registered Sex Offenders: 13,211

Latest Events

Recent Action: November 2005, sex offender "crackdown" a central issue in Attorney General electoral race; September 2005, state Sex Offender Task Force subcommittee approved nearly 40 recommendations to strengthen state laws, to be reviewed and introduced as legislation in December 2005; March 2005, legislation passed to expand registry

Statutes

Sex Offender Registration
Va. Code Ann. § 9.1-900 et seq.

Community Notification of Sexual Offenders
Va. Code Ann. § 9.1-912-918

Sexual Offenses Against Children and Penalties
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-61 et seq.
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-361 et seq.

Crimes Involving the Prostitution of Children
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-355, § 18.2-48, § 18.2-49

Child Abuse Crimes: Homicide
VA ST § 18.2-31

Regulations

Registration: Adults and juveniles (if age 14 or older and at the discretion of judge upon motion of commonwealth attorney); 2 tiers; 10 days of release, or juvenile disposition, or entering state; foreign convictions not registrable; notification of changes: within 10 days

Notification: passive, or automatic for certain entities; mandatory; no specified time frame; applicable to adult and juvenile registrants (may petition to be removed); state required to notify law enforcement for college where offender is attending or working

Risk Designation: no specified tiers; no provision for hearing

Tracking: verification of registry info 90 days or annually, by mail form; duration of registration 10 years or life; FBI notified

Penalties: Class 1 misdemeanor; Class 6 felony

Resources

Website of Registry: http://sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov/sor/
Relevant State Entity: Virginia State Police