Reentry resources in Virginia - what you need to do and where to go after prison

QUICK FACTS BAR

State DOC: Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC)

Parole: Virginia Parole Board - note: Virginia abolished parole for offenses committed on or after January 1, 1995; most people serve at least 85% of their sentence

Medicaid expansion: YES (full expansion - 2019)

Voting rights: Currently requires governor's application - November 2026 ballot amendment would change to automatic restoration on release; VERIFY STATUS AFTER NOVEMBER 2026 ELECTION

SNAP drug felony ban: Full opt-out - no ban regardless of conviction

Expungement: Available - recently expanded petition-based expungement (2021 Clean Slate Act) for first-time non-violent offenses; automatic expungement for some non-conviction records; Virginia's framework improved significantly but remains limited compared to states like Ohio or Michigan

Ban the box: Public AND private employers - Virginia's statewide law (2020) covers both; Richmond and other cities have additional local ordinances

INTRO

Virginia's reentry landscape is in transition - significant legal changes in 2019, 2020, and 2021 improved it substantially, and a November 2026 constitutional amendment on the ballot could transform voting rights entirely. Currently, Virginia requires returning citizens to apply to the governor for restoration of voting rights - one of the most restrictive systems in the country. Under Governor Youngkin's administration that process has functioned at varying speeds. A November 2026 ballot measure, if passed by Virginia voters, would amend the state constitution to automatically restore voting rights upon release from incarceration - eliminating the application requirement entirely. Whether that amendment passed must be verified by whoever is publishing this page after the election. On other fronts: Virginia expanded Medicaid in 2019, enacted a strong statewide ban-the-box law in 2020 covering private employers, and passed the Clean Slate Act in 2021 providing the first meaningful expungement pathway for Virginia felony convictions. The reentry service infrastructure is strongest in Northern Virginia/DC metro (Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria), Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Roanoke. Rural Southside Virginia and the coalfields are significantly underserved.

CRITICAL NOTE FOR POORWA BEFORE PUBLISHING

The voting rights section of this page must be updated based on the November 4, 2026 Virginia election results. The constitutional amendment (described in detail below) was on the ballot. Check the Virginia SBE website (elections.virginia.gov) for the final result and update this page accordingly before publishing. If the amendment passed, voting rights now restore automatically upon release from incarceration and the governor's application process is eliminated. If it did not pass, the governor's application process remains in effect as described below.

FIRST 30 DAYS CHECKLIST

Day 1-3:

Report to your VADOC Probation and Parole officer as directed. Virginia's Probation and Parole Services division (part of VADOC) supervises post-release supervision for most state sentences. Report on the scheduled date with all required documentation.

Day 1-7:

Apply for voting rights restoration if the constitutional amendment did NOT pass. If the ballot amendment failed and the governor's application process is still in effect: apply immediately at governor.virginia.gov/rights-restoration. The process under recent governors has ranged from relatively automatic to slower - check the current administration's approach and apply promptly.

If the amendment DID pass: your voting rights restored automatically upon release. Register at vote.virginia.gov. Virginia has same-day registration at the polls.

Day 1-7:

Obtain your Virginia state ID or driver's license. Virginia DMV: dmv.virginia.gov. VADOC provides a state ID to qualifying individuals at release. Bring: birth certificate or VADOC ID, Social Security card, and proof of Virginia residency.

Day 1-14:

Apply for Virginia Medicaid (Medicaid/FAMIS). Virginia expanded Medicaid in January 2019 - most low-income adults now qualify. Apply at commonhelp.virginia.gov or call 1-855-242-8282.

Day 1-14:

Apply for SNAP benefits. Virginia has fully opted out of the federal drug felony ban - everyone meeting income and residency requirements qualifies. Apply at commonhelp.virginia.gov or your local Department of Social Services.

ID RESTORATION

Birth certificate:

Virginia Department of Health Vital Records - vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records. Cost: $12 per copy. VADOC assists with pre-release birth certificate requests - confirm with case manager before release.

Social Security card:

SSA.gov/ssnumber. Free. Locate nearest office at ssa.gov/locator.

State ID / Driver's License:

Virginia DMV - dmv.virginia.gov. VADOC provides state IDs at release for qualifying individuals. Bring proof of identity, Social Security number, and Virginia residency. Cost: $10 for ID card.

Outstanding license issues: Virginia suspends driver's licenses for unpaid court fines and costs, child support, and other reasons. Check your license status at dmv.virginia.gov. Virginia has a driver's license reinstatement process including payment plans.

ID Assistance Programs:

Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (cvlas.org) in Richmond. Virginia Legal Aid Society (vlas.org) in Hampton Roads. Legal Aid Justice Center (justice4all.org) statewide. Offender Aid and Restoration (oar-rva.com) in Richmond provides reentry services including ID assistance.

VOTING RIGHTS

VERIFY STATUS AFTER NOVEMBER 2026 ELECTION BEFORE PUBLISHING

CURRENT LAW (if the November 2026 amendment did NOT pass):

Virginia requires an individual application to the Governor for restoration of civil rights including voting rights after a felony conviction. This is one of only two remaining states (with Kentucky, though Kentucky's situation differs) that does not have automatic restoration at any stage.

The application is made at governor.virginia.gov/rights-restoration. The governor reviews and approves or denies on a case-by-case basis. Under some governors, this has been processed relatively quickly and consistently. Under others, it has been slower and less predictable. Current administration policies should be confirmed at the governor's website at the time of publishing.

Note: Virginia abolished parole for offenses committed on or after January 1, 1995. Most people releasing from Virginia state prison today are not on traditional parole but on post-release supervision. Either way, under current law, there is no automatic voting rights restoration upon release.

IF THE NOVEMBER 2026 AMENDMENT PASSED:

The Virginia Constitution now automatically restores voting rights upon release from incarceration for the felony conviction. People on probation or post-release supervision would be able to vote. No application to the governor required. Register at vote.virginia.gov. UPDATE THIS ENTIRE SECTION based on the election result and the implementing legislation.

Register (once eligible): vote.virginia.gov. Virginia has same-day registration.

BENEFITS ACCESS

MEDICAID:

Virginia expanded Medicaid in January 2019 - one of the later expansion states but now providing full coverage. Most low-income adults at or below 138% of the federal poverty level qualify. Apply at commonhelp.virginia.gov or call 1-855-242-8282.

VADOC has initiated pre-release Medicaid enrollment efforts - confirm with your case manager whether enrollment has been initiated before release. If not, apply within your first week.

SNAP:

Virginia has fully opted out of the federal drug felony ban on SNAP. Everyone meeting income and Virginia residency requirements qualifies. Apply at commonhelp.virginia.gov or your local DSS.

TANF (Virginia Initiative for Employment Not Welfare - VIEW):

Virginia has fully opted out of the TANF drug felony ban. Eligible families are not excluded based on drug felony history.

Housing:

Virginia does not have a single statewide reentry housing program. Federal RRCs serve federal inmates under RRM Raleigh (covers Virginia - not Baltimore, which covers DC/MD/DE/WV). VADOC contracts with Community Residential Programs (CRPs) for transitional housing - the CRP list is not publicly posted and requires direct request from VADOC (see the halfway houses directory notes on Virginia). Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads have the most developed nonprofit reentry housing networks. Southside Virginia and the Southwest coalfields are significantly underserved.

EXPUNGEMENT AND RECORD RELIEF

Virginia's record relief framework improved significantly in 2021 but remains more limited than many states.

Virginia Clean Slate Act (2021 - HB 2113 / SB 1339):

Enacted automatic and petition-based expungement provisions:

Automatic expungement:

- Arrests where charges were dismissed or the person was acquitted: automatically expunged after a waiting period under the 2021 law

- Deferred disposition completions: eligible for automatic expungement in some circumstances

- The automatic process is run by the court system - no petition required for qualifying records

Petition-based expungement for convictions:

- First-time, non-violent misdemeanor convictions: eligible for expungement after 7 years from completion of sentence with no new convictions

- First-time, Class 6 or Class 5 (lowest-level) felony convictions: eligible for expungement after 10 years from completion of sentence with no new convictions, excluding sex offenses and violent crimes

- This was a significant expansion - before 2021, Virginia had essentially no pathway to expunge conviction records

What CANNOT be expunged: Class 1 through Class 4 felony convictions, violent felonies, sex offenses, crimes against children, and most offenses with substantial prison sentences. The majority of serious Virginia felony convictions are not eligible.

Certificate of Relief:

Virginia issues Certificates of Relief for people with certain convictions who have completed their sentence. The Certificate provides evidence of rehabilitation and can help with licensing applications and employment. It does not expunge the record.

Legal resources:

- Virginia Legal Aid Society: vlas.org / (757) 627-5423 - Hampton Roads

- Central Virginia Legal Aid Society: cvlas.org / (804) 648-1012 - Richmond

- Legal Aid Justice Center: justice4all.org / (434) 977-0553 - statewide with focus on immigrants and low-income Virginians

- Virginia Poverty Law Center: vplc.org - policy and self-help resources

- Virginia Expungement Network: virginiaexpungement.com - attorney referral network for expungement

EMPLOYMENT AND LICENSING

Virginia Fair Chance Act (statewide - 2020):

Virginia enacted the Virginia Fair Chance Act in 2020, prohibiting employers with more than one employee from asking about criminal history on an initial job application. Criminal history may be inquired about after the initial application stage. This covers both public and private employers. The law does not restrict when criminal background checks can be conducted - it only restricts when the question can appear on the application itself.

Richmond and Fairfax County have local ordinances that provide additional protections.

Occupational licensing:

Virginia enacted licensing reform in recent years. The Administrative Process Act and specific licensing board statutes have been amended to require individualized assessment rather than automatic denial based on conviction history. The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) oversees many professional licenses.

Virginia abolished the automatic lifetime ban on occupational licenses for people with convictions in many regulated professions - boards must now consider rehabilitation evidence and the relationship between the offense and the license sought.

Employment assistance:

- Virginia Career Works: vcwcentralva.com - statewide workforce development network. Local Virginia Career Works centers provide employment services including reentry programs.

- VADOC Reentry Employment Services: coordinated through the VADOC reentry unit

- Boaz and Ruth: boazandruth.com / (804) 329-3777 / Richmond - social enterprise employing returning citizens; one of the best-known reentry employment models in Virginia

KEY VIRGINIA REENTRY ORGANIZATIONS

Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR)

oar-rva.com / (804) 643-2746 / Richmond (statewide reach)

One of Virginia's oldest and most established reentry organizations. Case management, employment, housing navigation, family services, and ID assistance. Strong Richmond presence with statewide programming.

Boaz and Ruth

boazandruth.com / (804) 329-3777 / Richmond

Social enterprise model providing employment to returning citizens. Operates a woodworking shop and cafe staffed by people returning from prison. One of the most cited reentry employment models in the state.

Homeward

homewardva.org / (804) 343-2700 / Richmond

Homeless services and transitional housing with significant reentry population served in the Richmond metro area.

Legal Aid Justice Center

justice4all.org / (434) 977-0553 / Charlottesville (statewide reach)

Legal services for low-income Virginians including expungement, housing advocacy, and reentry legal issues. Strong focus on immigrant communities and rural Virginia.

Central Virginia Legal Aid Society

cvlas.org / (804) 648-1012 / Richmond (central VA)

Free civil legal services including expungement assistance, housing, and reentry legal needs in central Virginia.

Virginia Supportive Housing

virginiasupportivehousing.org / (804) 836-1819 / Richmond (statewide)

Permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness including returning citizens. Operates across multiple Virginia localities.

VADOC Reentry Services Division

vadoc.virginia.gov/offenders/reentry

Official VADOC reentry coordination. Pre-release planning, employment assistance, and community resource connections.

STATE DOC REENTRY PROGRAMS

Virginia Reentry Initiative (VRI):

VADOC operates the Virginia Reentry Initiative coordinating pre-release planning across all VADOC institutions. Reentry coordinators work with incarcerated individuals before release to develop housing plans, employment connections, and benefit enrollment.

Education and Vocational Programs:

VADOC provides GED preparation, vocational training (HVAC, welding, plumbing, construction, culinary, and others), and college programming through partnerships with Virginia community colleges. Virginia has expanded Second Chance Pell access significantly.

Substance Abuse Treatment:

VADOC operates the Therapeutic Community (TC) substance abuse treatment model inside institutions and coordinates with community providers during post-release supervision.

Virginia Parole Board (legacy cases):

The Virginia Parole Board continues to operate for people convicted before January 1, 1995 - the small but still-existing population serving pre-abolition sentences. The Board conducts hearings and makes release decisions for this population.

HALFWAY HOUSES LINK BLOCK

Find halfway houses and reentry housing in Virginia ->

inmateaid.com/halfway-houses/virginia/

Virginia has federal Residential Reentry Centers under BOP Residential Reentry Management Raleigh (all of Virginia falls under RRM Raleigh - NOT RRM Baltimore, which covers DC/MD/DE/WV). VADOC contracts with Community Residential Programs (CRPs) for state-supervised transitional housing - the full CRP list requires requesting VADOC Attachment 2 directly from VADOC. Northern Virginia/DC metro, Richmond, and Hampton Roads have the most reentry housing options. Southwest Virginia coalfields area has very limited options.

Note: Virginia has 95 counties plus 38 independent cities - 133 distinct geographic units. County and city jail pages must account for this geography.