HB968:

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; disclosure of certain criminal investigative files.

Bill Summary:

Virginia Freedom of Information Act; disclosure of certain criminal investigative files; violent crimes. Prohibits a public body engaged in law-enforcement activities from disclosing any photographic, audio, video, or physical evidence from a violent crime unless the public body has notified (i) the victim, (ii) members of the victim's immediate family, if the victim is deceased; or (iii) the victim's parent or guardian, if the victim is a minor, of the request of such information. The bill allows such persons to file in an appropriate court a petition for an injunction to prevent release of the records and provides that the period within which the public body shall respond shall be tolled for the amount of time that elapses between the filing of the petition and any resulting disposition by the court.