{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-220.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-220.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-220.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-220.html"}],"law_id":66457,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66457,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-220","catch_line":"Contents of indictment in general","history":"1975, c. 495.","full_text":"The indictment or information shall be a plain, concise and definite written statement, (1) naming the accused, (2) describing the offense charged, (3) identifying the county, city or town in which the accused committed the offense, and (4) reciting that the accused committed the offense on or about a certain date. In describing the offense, the indictment or information may use the name given to the offense by the common law, or the indictment or information may state so much of the common law or statutory definition of the offense as is sufficient to advise what offense is charged.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":241196,"text":"The indictment or information shall be a plain, concise and definite written statement, (1) naming the accused, (2) describing the offense charged, (3) identifying the county, city or town in which the accused committed the offense, and (4) reciting that the accused committed the offense on or about a certain date. In describing the offense, the indictment or information may use the name given to the offense by the common law, or the indictment or information may state so much of the common law or statutory definition of the offense as is sufficient to advise what offense is charged.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14120,"edition_id":1,"name":"Form and Requisites","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14119,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:56","permalink":{"id":168893,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14120,"identifier":"2","token":"19.2\/14\/2","url":"\/19.2\/14\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14119,"edition_id":1,"name":"Presentments, Indictments and Informations","identifier":"14","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12801,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:56","permalink":{"id":168861,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14119,"identifier":"14","token":"19.2\/14","url":"\/19.2\/14\/","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":66457,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-220","catch_line":"Contents of indictment in general","url":"\/19.2-220\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-220","metadata":false},{"id":84884,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-221","catch_line":"Form of prosecutions generally; murder and manslaughter","url":"\/19.2-221\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-221","metadata":false},{"id":78877,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-222","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/19.2-222\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-222","metadata":false},{"id":55986,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-223","catch_line":"Charging several acts of embezzlement; description of money","url":"\/19.2-223\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-223","metadata":false},{"id":81875,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-224","catch_line":"In prosecution for forgery, unnecessary to set forth copy of forged instrument","url":"\/19.2-224\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-224","metadata":false},{"id":75696,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-225","catch_line":"Allegation of intent","url":"\/19.2-225\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-225","metadata":false},{"id":66940,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-226","catch_line":"What defects in indictments not to vitiate them","url":"\/19.2-226\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-226","metadata":false},{"id":84420,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-227","catch_line":"When judgment not to be arrested or reversed","url":"\/19.2-227\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-227","metadata":false},{"id":67615,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-228","catch_line":"Name and address of complaining witness to be written on indictment, etc., for misdemeanor","url":"\/19.2-228\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-228","metadata":false},{"id":62521,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-229","catch_line":"When complaining witness required to give security for costs","url":"\/19.2-229\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-229","metadata":false},{"id":55258,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-230","catch_line":"Bill of particulars","url":"\/19.2-230\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-230","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":84884,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-221","catch_line":"Form of prosecutions generally; murder and manslaughter","url":"\/19.2-221\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-221","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-220\/","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.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":168895,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66457,"identifier":"19.2-220","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-220","url":"\/19.2-220\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-220\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-220","dublin_core":{"Title":"Contents of indictment in general","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-220","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The indictment<\/span> or information shall be a plain, concise and definite written statement, (1) naming the accused<\/span>, (2) describing the offense<\/span> charged, (3) identifying the county, city or town in which the accused<\/span> committed the offense<\/span>, and (4) reciting that the accused<\/span> committed the offense<\/span> on or about a certain date. In describing the offense<\/span>, the indictment<\/span> or information may use the name given to the offense<\/span> by the common law<\/span>, or the indictment<\/span> or information may state so much of the common law<\/span> or statutory definition of the offense<\/span> as is sufficient to advise what offense<\/span> is charged.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONTENTS OF INDICTMENT IN GENERAL (\u00a7 19.2-220)\n\nThe indictment or information shall be a plain, concise and definite written\nstatement, (1) naming the accused, (2) describing the offense charged, (3)\nidentifying the county, city or town in which the accused committed the offense,\nand (4) reciting that the accused committed the offense on or about a certain\ndate. In describing the offense, the indictment or information may use the name\ngiven to the offense by the common law, or the indictment or information may\nstate so much of the common law or statutory definition of the offense as is\nsufficient to advise what offense is charged.\n\nHISTORY: 1975, c. 495.","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}}