Virginia State Police Rap Back Program exceeds 56,000 enrollments

The Virginia State Police Federal Rap Back Program has reached 56,915 enrollments in its first year of operation. Launched on July 1, 2025, the program provides continuous, real-time monitoring of criminal history records for enrolled individuals, which serves as a replacement for periodic fingerprint-based background checks.

Mandated by the Virginia General Assembly, the system has already issued 269 notifications regarding criminal history updates. The program is available to school divisions, criminal justice agencies, and other authorized organizations. Captain Julia Gunderson, commander of the Virginia State Police Criminal Justice Information Division, stated that the real-time updates provide critical information to partners without increasing administrative burdens, helping to protect vulnerable populations.

Criminal justice agencies can register staff members at no cost. Other eligible agencies must pay an initial $39 fee, which covers mandatory state and federal background checks and a first-year enrollment fee, followed by a $12 annual fee. The Fairfax County Public School System is currently the largest enrolled agency in the Commonwealth.