{
  "batch": "864-virginia-obscenity-and-distribution",
  "articles": [
    {
      "id": "learn_r864_virginia_obscenity_and_distribution_va_anchor_code",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia: statutory code index",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia's statutory code is published on the official Virginia Law Legislative Information System at law.lis.virginia.gov under the Code of Virginia table of contents listing Title 18.2 Crimes and Offenses Generally.",
      "body": "Virginia's statutory code is published on the official Virginia Law Legislative Information System at law.lis.virginia.gov under the Code of Virginia table of contents listing Title 18.2 Crimes and Offenses Generally.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“Code of Virginia Table of Contents Title 1 General Provisions Title 2.2 Administration of Government Title 3.2 Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food Title 4.1 Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control Title 5.1 Aviation Title 6.2 Financial Institutions and Services Title 8.01 Civil Remedies and Procedure Title 8.1A Uniform Commercial Code — General Provisions Title 8.2 Commercial Code - Sales Title 8.2A Commercial Code — Leases Title 8.3A Commercial Code — Negotiable Instruments Title 8.4 Commercial Code — Bank Deposits and Collections Title 8.4A Commercial Code — Funds Transfers Title 8.5A Uniform Commercial Code — Letters of Credit Title 8.7 Commercial Code — Warehouse Receipts, Bills of Lading and Other Documents of Title Title 8.8A Commercial Code — Investment Securities Title 8.9A Commercial Code — Secured Transactions Title 8.10 Commercial Code — Effective Date — Transitional Provisions Title 8.11 1973 Amendatory Act — Effective Date and Transition Provisions Title 8.12 Controllable Electronic Records Title 8.13 2022 Amendments – Effective Date and Transition Provisions Title 9.1 Commonwealth Public Safety Title 10.1 Conservation Title 11 Contracts Title 12.1 State Corporation Commission Title 13.1 Corporations Title 15.2 Counties, Cities and Towns Title 16.1 Courts Not of Record Title 17.1 Courts of Record Title 18.2 Crimes and Offenses Generally”\n\nNote: Anchor record for Virginia statutory code index.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-15",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "Code of Virginia Table of Contents Title 1 General Provisions Title 2.2 Administration of Government Title 3.2 Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food Title 4.1 Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control Title 5.1 Aviation Title 6.2 Financial Institutions and Services Title 8.01 Civil Remedies and Procedure Title 8.1A Uniform Commercial Code — General Provisions Title 8.2 Commercial Code - Sales Title 8.2A Commercial Code — Leases Title 8.3A Commercial Code — Negotiable Instruments Title 8.4 Commercial Code — Bank Deposits and Collections Title 8.4A Commercial Code — Funds Transfers Title 8.5A Uniform Commercial Code — Letters of Credit Title 8.7 Commercial Code — Warehouse Receipts, Bills of Lading and Other Documents of Title Title 8.8A Commercial Code — Investment Securities Title 8.9A Commercial Code — Secured Transactions Title 8.10 Commercial Code — Effective Date — Transitional Provisions Title 8.11 1973 Amendatory Act — Effective Date and Transition Provisions Title 8.12 Controllable Electronic Records Title 8.13 2022 Amendments – Effective Date and Transition Provisions Title 9.1 Commonwealth Public Safety Title 10.1 Conservation Title 11 Contracts Title 12.1 State Corporation Commission Title 13.1 Corporations Title 15.2 Counties, Cities and Towns Title 16.1 Courts Not of Record Title 17.1 Courts of Record Title 18.2 Crimes and Offenses Generally",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "864-virginia-obscenity-and-distribution",
      "subject": "Virginia",
      "topic": "statutory code index",
      "applies_to_country": "*",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-va"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r864_virginia_obscenity_and_distribution_va_obscenity_definition",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia: obscenity definition statute",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia law defines 'obscene' under § 18.2-372 as material that, considered as a whole, has as its dominant theme or purpose an appeal to the prurient interest in sex, goes substantially beyond customary limits of candor, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.",
      "body": "Virginia law defines 'obscene' under § 18.2-372 as material that, considered as a whole, has as its dominant theme or purpose an appeal to the prurient interest in sex, goes substantially beyond customary limits of candor, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“The word \"obscene\" where it appears in this article shall mean that which, considered as a whole, has as its dominant theme or purpose an appeal to the prurient interest in sex, that is, a shameful or morbid interest in nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, excretory functions or products thereof or sadomasochistic abuse, and which goes substantially beyond customary limits of candor in description or representation of such matters and which, taken as a whole, does not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.”\n\nNote: Statutory definition of obscenity under Code of Virginia § 18.2-372.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter8/section18.2-372/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-15",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "The word \"obscene\" where it appears in this article shall mean that which, considered as a whole, has as its dominant theme or purpose an appeal to the prurient interest in sex, that is, a shameful or morbid interest in nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, excretory functions or products thereof or sadomasochistic abuse, and which goes substantially beyond customary limits of candor in description or representation of such matters and which, taken as a whole, does not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "864-virginia-obscenity-and-distribution",
      "subject": "Virginia",
      "topic": "obscenity definition statute",
      "applies_to_country": "*",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-va"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "rules.content",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "explicit_solo"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r864_virginia_obscenity_and_distribution_va_obscenity_distribution",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia: distribution or sale offence",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Under Virginia Code § 18.2-374, it is unlawful for any person knowingly to prepare, print, copy, manufacture, produce, publish, sell, rent, lend, transport in intrastate commerce, distribute, exhibit, or possess with intent to sell, rent, lend, transport, or distribute any obscene item.",
      "body": "Under Virginia Code § 18.2-374, it is unlawful for any person knowingly to prepare, print, copy, manufacture, produce, publish, sell, rent, lend, transport in intrastate commerce, distribute, exhibit, or possess with intent to sell, rent, lend, transport, or distribute any obscene item.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to: (1) Prepare any obscene item for the purposes of sale or distribution; or (2) Print, copy, manufacture, produce, or reproduce any obscene item for purposes of sale or distribution; or (3) Publish, sell, rent, lend, transport in intrastate commerce, or distribute or exhibit any obscene item, or offer to do any of these things; or (4) Have in his possession with intent to sell, rent, lend, transport, or distribute any obscene item.”\n\nNote: Prohibitions on production, publication, sale, and possession of obscene items under Code of Virginia § 18.2-374.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter8/section18.2-374/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-15",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to: (1) Prepare any obscene item for the purposes of sale or distribution; or (2) Print, copy, manufacture, produce, or reproduce any obscene item for purposes of sale or distribution; or (3) Publish, sell, rent, lend, transport in intrastate commerce, or distribute or exhibit any obscene item, or offer to do any of these things; or (4) Have in his possession with intent to sell, rent, lend, transport, or distribute any obscene item.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "864-virginia-obscenity-and-distribution",
      "subject": "Virginia",
      "topic": "distribution or sale offence",
      "applies_to_country": "*",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-va"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "rules.content",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "explicit_solo"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r864_virginia_obscenity_and_distribution_va_obscenity_penalty",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia: penalty classification for each offence",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Any person, firm, association or corporation convicted for the first time of an obscenity offense under §§ 18.2-374 through 18.2-379 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia Code § 18.2-380.",
      "body": "Any person, firm, association or corporation convicted for the first time of an obscenity offense under §§ 18.2-374 through 18.2-379 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia Code § 18.2-380.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“Any person, firm, association or corporation convicted for the first time of an offense under §§ 18.2-374, 18.2-375, 18.2-376, 18.2-377, 18.2-378 or § 18.2-379, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.”\n\nNote: First offense penalty for obscenity violations under Code of Virginia § 18.2-380.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter8/section18.2-380/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-15",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "Any person, firm, association or corporation convicted for the first time of an offense under §§ 18.2-374, 18.2-375, 18.2-376, 18.2-377, 18.2-378 or § 18.2-379, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "864-virginia-obscenity-and-distribution",
      "subject": "Virginia",
      "topic": "penalty classification for each offence",
      "applies_to_country": "*",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "trouble",
        "region": [
          "us-va"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "rules.enforcement",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r864_virginia_obscenity_and_distribution_va_minors_harmful",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia: harmful-to-minors provision",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia Code § 18.2-390 defines 'harmful to juveniles' as any description or representation of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse that predominantly appeals to the prurient, shameful or morbid interest of juveniles, is patently offensive to prevailing adult community standards regarding suitability for juveniles, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for juveniles.",
      "body": "Virginia Code § 18.2-390 defines 'harmful to juveniles' as any description or representation of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse that predominantly appeals to the prurient, shameful or morbid interest of juveniles, is patently offensive to prevailing adult community standards regarding suitability for juveniles, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for juveniles.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“\"Harmful to juveniles\" means that quality of any description or representation, in whatever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse, when it (a) predominantly appeals to the prurient, shameful or morbid interest of juveniles, (b) is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for juveniles, and (c) is, when taken as a whole, lacking in serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for juveniles.”\n\nNote: Statutory definition of 'harmful to juveniles' under Code of Virginia § 18.2-390.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter8/section18.2-390/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-15",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "\"Harmful to juveniles\" means that quality of any description or representation, in whatever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse, when it (a) predominantly appeals to the prurient, shameful or morbid interest of juveniles, (b) is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for juveniles, and (c) is, when taken as a whole, lacking in serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for juveniles.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "864-virginia-obscenity-and-distribution",
      "subject": "Virginia",
      "topic": "harmful-to-minors provision",
      "applies_to_country": "*",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-va"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "rules.content",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "suggestive"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r864_virginia_obscenity_and_distribution_va_minors_distribution",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Virginia: harmful-to-minors provision",
      "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Under Virginia Code § 18.2-391, it is unlawful to sell, rent, loan, or knowingly display for commercial purpose in a manner where juveniles may examine and peruse any visual or printed material depicting sexually explicit nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse that is harmful to juveniles, and violations are punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.",
      "body": "Under Virginia Code § 18.2-391, it is unlawful to sell, rent, loan, or knowingly display for commercial purpose in a manner where juveniles may examine and peruse any visual or printed material depicting sexually explicit nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse that is harmful to juveniles, and violations are punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nWhat Virginia General Assembly actually says:\n\n“It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, rent or loan to a juvenile, knowing or having reason to know that such person is a juvenile, or to knowingly display for commercial purpose in a manner whereby juveniles may examine and peruse: 1. Any picture, photography, drawing, sculpture, motion picture in any format or medium, video or computer game, electronic file or message containing an image, or similar visual representation or image of a person or portion of the human body which depicts sexually explicit nudity, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse and which is harmful to juveniles”\n\nNote: Prohibitions and penalties on selling, loaning, or displaying harmful materials to juveniles under Code of Virginia § 18.2-391.",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter8/section18.2-391/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-15",
      "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "Virginia General Assembly",
      "evidence_quote": "It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, rent or loan to a juvenile, knowing or having reason to know that such person is a juvenile, or to knowingly display for commercial purpose in a manner whereby juveniles may examine and peruse: 1. Any picture, photography, drawing, sculpture, motion picture in any format or medium, video or computer game, electronic file or message containing an image, or similar visual representation or image of a person or portion of the human body which depicts sexually explicit nudity, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse and which is harmful to juveniles",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "864-virginia-obscenity-and-distribution",
      "subject": "Virginia",
      "topic": "harmful-to-minors provision",
      "applies_to_country": "*",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "running",
        "region": [
          "us-va"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "rules.content",
          "safety.legal"
        ],
        "explicitness": "suggestive"
      },
      "verification": {
        "status": "unverified",
        "label": "Unverified - being checked",
        "reasons": [
          "legal_fetch_over_cap"
        ],
        "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z"
      }
    }
  ]
}