Virginia HB 1642 (2025) — Human Decision-Maker Required When AI Tools Are Used in Criminal Justice Decisions
Virginia · Va. Code 19.2-11.14; HB 1642 (2025), Va. Acts c. 637
Virginia requires that key criminal-justice decisions be made by a human being, even when an AI tool produces a recommendation or prediction. The rule covers pretrial detention or release, prosecution, adjudication, sentencing, probation, parole, correctional supervision, and rehabilitation. No such decision may be made without a human decision-maker, and any AI-generated recommendation is subject to any challenge or objection allowed by law.
Technical detail
Va. Code 19.2-11.14 (HB 1642 (2025), Va. Acts c. 637) provides that covered criminal-justice decisions shall not be made without the involvement of a human decision-maker even where an AI-based tool generates a recommendation or prediction, and that such output remains subject to challenge.
Who is protected: Criminal defendants and offenders subject to detention, prosecution, sentencing, supervision, or release decisions informed by AI tools.
Who must comply: Courts, prosecutors, and corrections/criminal-justice decision-makers using AI-based tools in covered decisions.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2025-07-01 |
| Enacted | 2025-04-02 |
| Citation | Va. Code 19.2-11.14; HB 1642 (2025), Va. Acts c. 637 |
| Enforced by | Virginia courts (ordinary criminal procedure and the statutory right to challenge AI output). |
| Topics | police and surveillance AI · automated decision-making · government use of AI |
| Last verified | 2026-06-16 |
| Official source | Code of Virginia 19.2-11.14 — Use of artificial intelligence-based tool ↗ |
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