Virginia has become the latest US state to enact a “Clean Slate” law, the Good News Network reported.

The law automatically seals criminal records for certain minor offenses. Old arrests and convictions will no longer show up in background checks.

Supporters say it helps people find jobs and housing. A decades-old minor offense can block employment for life without such laws.

The law covers nonviolent misdemeanors after a set waiting period. Serious and violent crimes are not included.

Virginia joins a growing list of states with automatic record-clearing. The measure went into effect this year.

Advocates call it a second chance for thousands of residents. Critics worry about public safety, but supporters point to low reoffending rates.

For Virginians with old records, the law could quietly change everything about their future.

More than a dozen US states now have some form of automatic record sealing. Studies link clean slate laws to lower repeat offending.