Virginia criminal charge
Providing false information or failing to provide registration information in Virginia
Providing false information or failing to provide registration information is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1. Its classification is not fixed: Virginia assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1.
What is the penalty for providing false information or failing to provide registration information in Virginia?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 12 months (Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - non-Tier III offender (first offense) — Applies to a person subject to the registry (other than a Tier III offense or murder offender) who knowingly fails to register, reregister, or verify registration information, or knowingly provides materially false information, on a first offense.) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - non-Tier III offender (first offense) — Applies to a person subject to the registry (other than a Tier III offense or murder offender) who knowingly fails to register, reregister, or verify registration information, or knowingly provides materially false information, on a first offense.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(a))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 5 years (Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - non-Tier III offender (second or subsequent offense) — Applies to a second or subsequent conviction under subsection A for a non-Tier III/murder registrant's failure to register or providing false registration information.; or, at the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both (§ 18.2-10(f))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - non-Tier III offender (second or subsequent offense) — Applies to a second or subsequent conviction under subsection A for a non-Tier III/murder registrant's failure to register or providing false registration information.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(f)) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 5 years (Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - Tier III/murder offender (first offense) — Applies to a person convicted of a Tier III offense or murder who knowingly fails to register, reregister, or verify registration information, or knowingly provides materially false information, on a first offense.; or, at the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both (§ 18.2-10(f))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - Tier III/murder offender (first offense) — Applies to a person convicted of a Tier III offense or murder who knowingly fails to register, reregister, or verify registration information, or knowingly provides materially false information, on a first offense.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(f)) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 10 years (Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - Tier III/murder offender (second or subsequent offense) — Applies to a second or subsequent conviction under subsection B for a Tier III/murder registrant's failure to register or providing false registration information.; or, at the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both (§ 18.2-10(e))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - Tier III/murder offender (second or subsequent offense) — Applies to a second or subsequent conviction under subsection B for a Tier III/murder registrant's failure to register or providing false registration information.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(e)) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
Applies to current.
How is providing false information or failing to provide registration information classified in Virginia?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - non-Tier III offender (first offense) | class 1 misdemeanor | Applies to a person subject to the registry (other than a Tier III offense or murder offender) who knowingly fails to register, reregister, or verify registration information, or knowingly provides materially false information, on a first offense. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1A |
| Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - non-Tier III offender (second or subsequent offense) | class 6 felony | Applies to a second or subsequent conviction under subsection A for a non-Tier III/murder registrant's failure to register or providing false registration information. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1A |
| Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - Tier III/murder offender (first offense) | class 6 felony | Applies to a person convicted of a Tier III offense or murder who knowingly fails to register, reregister, or verify registration information, or knowingly provides materially false information, on a first offense. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1B |
| Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - Tier III/murder offender (second or subsequent offense) | class 5 felony | Applies to a second or subsequent conviction under subsection B for a Tier III/murder registrant's failure to register or providing false registration information. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1B |
Common questions about providing false information or failing to provide registration information in Virginia
Is providing false information or failing to provide registration information a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
It depends on the circumstances: providing false information or failing to provide registration information ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1.
Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - non-Tier III offender (first offense): class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1A) · Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - non-Tier III offender (second or subsequent offense): class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1A) · Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - Tier III/murder offender (first offense): class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1B) · Failure to register/reregister/verify or providing false information - Tier III/murder offender (second or subsequent offense): class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1B)
What are the penalties for providing false information or failing to provide registration information in Virginia?
Penalties for providing false information or failing to provide registration information in Virginia depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 5 felony — with the ranges set by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 and Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Virginia statute covers providing false information or failing to provide registration information?
Providing false information or failing to provide registration information is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-472.1 (Providing false information or failing to provide registration information; penalty; prima facie evidence).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.