{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-19.2-216","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 19.2-216","heading":"Definition of indictment, presentment and information","body":"An indictment is a written accusation of crime, prepared by the attorney for the Commonwealth and returned \"a true bill\" upon the oath or affirmation of a legally impanelled grand jury.A presentment is a written accusation of crime prepared and returned by a grand jury from their own knowledge or observation, without any bill of indictment laid before them.An information is a written accusation of crime or a complaint for forfeiture of property or money or for imposition of a penalty, prepared and presented by a competent public official upon his oath of office.1975, c. 495.","path":["Title 19.2. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE","Chapter 14. PRESENTMENTS, INDICTMENTS AND INFORMATIONS","Article 1. NECESSITY FOR INDICTMENT, ETC"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/19.2-216/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:14:39Z","sha256":"551b3cfee3ef1bdf9e2126d71f63488f2ca3c4054636a93bd6dae18878f1f936","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-19.2-215.11","next":"us-va/va.-code-19.2-217"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}