Disseminating criminal history information to any agency or person in violation constitutes which class misdemeanor?

• A. Class 1 misdemeanor
• B. Class 2 misdemeanor
• C. Class 3 misdemeanor
• D. Class 4 misdemeanor

Answer: (B)

This question tests understanding of how Virginia classifies offenses involving the misuse of sensitive information. When someone disseminates criminal history information to any agency or person in violation of the rules governing that data, the act is treated as a crime, and the statute assigns it a specific misdemeanor level. The designated level for this offense is Class 2 misdemeanor, placing it above the least severe misdemeanors but below the most serious (Class 1). This reflects the significant privacy and safety concerns involved in sharing restricted criminal history data, while not elevating it to a more serious felony or the highest misdemeanor category. The other classes would only apply to different offenses or different levels of wrongdoing, so this particular violation is specifically marked as Class 2.