{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-191.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-191.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-191.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-191.html"}],"law_id":60278,"edition_id":1,"section_id":60278,"structure_id":15722,"section_number":"19.2-191","catch_line":"Functions of a grand jury","history":"1975, c. 495; 1980, c. 517; 2001, c. 4.","full_text":"The functions of a grand jury are twofold:\n\n1\n\nTo consider bills of indictment prepared by the attorney for the Commonwealth and to determine whether as to each such bill there is sufficient probable cause to return such indictment “a true bill.”2\n\nTo investigate and report on any condition that involves or tends to promote criminal activity, either in the community or by any governmental authority, agency or official thereof. These functions may be exercised by either a special grand jury or a regular grand jury as hereinafter provided.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":220431,"text":"The functions of a grand jury are twofold:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":220432,"text":"To consider bills of indictment prepared by the attorney for the Commonwealth and to determine whether as to each such bill there is sufficient probable cause to return such indictment “a true bill.”","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":220433,"text":"To investigate and report on any condition that involves or tends to promote criminal activity, either in the community or by any governmental authority, agency or official thereof. These functions may be exercised by either a special grand jury or a regular grand jury as hereinafter provided.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15722,"edition_id":1,"name":"In General","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14961,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:58:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:58:21","permalink":{"id":168701,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15722,"identifier":"1","token":"19.2\/13\/1","url":"\/19.2\/13\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14961,"edition_id":1,"name":"Grand Juries","identifier":"13","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12801,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:07","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:07","permalink":{"id":168699,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14961,"identifier":"13","token":"19.2\/13","url":"\/19.2\/13\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12801,"edition_id":1,"name":"Criminal Procedure","identifier":"19.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":168169,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12801,"identifier":"19.2","token":"19.2","url":"\/19.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":60278,"structure_id":15722,"section_number":"19.2-191","catch_line":"Functions of a grand jury","url":"\/19.2-191\/","token":"19.2\/13\/1\/19.2-191","metadata":false},{"id":82990,"structure_id":15722,"section_number":"19.2-192","catch_line":"Secrecy in grand jury proceedings","url":"\/19.2-192\/","token":"19.2\/13\/1\/19.2-192","metadata":false},{"id":77110,"structure_id":15722,"section_number":"19.2-192.1","catch_line":"Sealing of indictment","url":"\/19.2-192.1\/","token":"19.2\/13\/1\/19.2-192.1","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":82990,"structure_id":15722,"section_number":"19.2-192","catch_line":"Secrecy in grand jury proceedings","url":"\/19.2-192\/","token":"19.2\/13\/1\/19.2-192","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-191\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1975. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 495 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1975 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1980, chapter 517; in 2001, chapter 4<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":85562,"section_number":"18.2-265.12","catch_line":"Authority to access data, records, and reports","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-265.12\/"},{"id":69742,"section_number":"19.2-199","catch_line":"Judge to charge grand jury","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-199\/"},{"id":65226,"section_number":"19.2-200","catch_line":"Duties of grand jury","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-200\/"},{"id":73460,"section_number":"19.2-206","catch_line":"When impanelled","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-206\/"},{"id":56919,"section_number":"54.1-2523","catch_line":"Confidentiality of data; disclosure of information; discretionary authority of Director","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2523\/"},{"id":82681,"section_number":"58.1-1017.4","catch_line":"Documents to be provided at purchase","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-1017.4\/"},{"id":79397,"section_number":"59.1-293.19","catch_line":"Recordkeeping; audits, inspections, and investigations; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-293.19\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":168703,"object_type":"law","relational_id":60278,"identifier":"19.2-191","token":"19.2\/13\/1\/19.2-191","url":"\/19.2-191\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-191\/","token":"19.2\/13\/1\/19.2-191","dublin_core":{"Title":"Functions of a grand jury","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-191","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The functions of a grand jury<\/span> are twofold:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> To consider bills of indictment<\/span> prepared by the attorney for the Commonwealth and to determine whether as to each such bill there is sufficient probable cause<\/span> to return such indictment<\/span> “a true bill<\/span>.” <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> To investigate and report on any condition that involves or tends to promote criminal activity, either in the community or by any governmental authority, agency or official thereof. These functions may be exercised by either a special grand jury<\/span> or a regular grand jury<\/span> as hereinafter provided. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFUNCTIONS OF A GRAND JURY (\u00a7 19.2-191)\n\nThe functions of a grand jury are twofold:\n\n1. To consider bills of indictment prepared by the attorney for the Commonwealth\nand to determine whether as to each such bill there is sufficient probable cause\nto return such indictment “a true bill.”\n\n2. To investigate and report on any condition that involves or tends to promote\ncriminal activity, either in the community or by any governmental authority,\nagency or official thereof. These functions may be exercised by either a special\ngrand jury or a regular grand jury as hereinafter provided.\n\nHISTORY: 1975, c. 495; 1980, c. 517; 2001, c. 4.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}