{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/19.2-221.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/19.2-221.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/19.2-221.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/19.2-221.html"}],"law_id":84884,"edition_id":1,"section_id":84884,"structure_id":14120,"section_number":"19.2-221","catch_line":"Form of prosecutions generally; murder and manslaughter","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 19.1-166; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495.","full_text":"The prosecutions for offenses against the Commonwealth, unless otherwise provided, shall be by presentment, indictment or information. While any form of presentment, indictment or information which informs the accused of the nature and cause of the accusation against him shall be good the following shall be deemed sufficient for murder and manslaughter:\n\t\tCommonwealth of Virginia _______________ county (or city) to-wit: The grand jurors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in and for the body of the county (or city) of __________, upon their oaths present that A __________ B __________, on the __________ day of __________, 20_____, in the county (or city) of __________ feloniously did kill and murder one C __________ D __________ against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.\n\t\tA grand jury may, in case of homicide, which in their opinion amounts to manslaughter only, and not to murder, find an indictment against the accused for manslaughter and in such case the indictment shall be sufficient if it be in form or effect as follows:\n\t\tCommonwealth of Virginia _______________ county (or city) to-wit: The grand jurors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in and for the body of the county (or city) of _______________, upon their oaths present that A __________ B __________, on the __________ day of __________, 20_____, in the county (or city) of __________ feloniously and unlawfully did kill and slay one C __________ D __________, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":304122,"text":"The prosecutions for offenses against the Commonwealth, unless otherwise provided, shall be by presentment, indictment or information. While any form of presentment, indictment or information which informs the accused of the nature and cause of the accusation against him shall be good the following shall be deemed sufficient for murder and manslaughter:\n\t\tCommonwealth of Virginia _______________ county (or city) to-wit: The grand jurors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in and for the body of the county (or city) of __________, upon their oaths present that A __________ B __________, on the __________ day of __________, 20_____, in the county (or city) of __________ feloniously did kill and murder one C __________ D __________ against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.\n\t\tA grand jury may, in case of homicide, which in their opinion amounts to manslaughter only, and not to murder, find an indictment against the accused for manslaughter and in such case the indictment shall be sufficient if it be in form or effect as follows:\n\t\tCommonwealth of Virginia _______________ county (or city) to-wit: The grand jurors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in and for the body of the county (or city) of _______________, upon their oaths present that A __________ B __________, on the __________ day of __________, 20_____, in the county (or city) of __________ feloniously and unlawfully did kill and slay one C __________ D __________, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.","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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/19.2-221\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\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 1960, chapter 366; in 1975, chapter 495.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":168899,"object_type":"law","relational_id":84884,"identifier":"19.2-221","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-221","url":"\/19.2-221\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/19.2-221\/","token":"19.2\/14\/2\/19.2-221","dublin_core":{"Title":"Form of prosecutions generally; murder and manslaughter","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 19.2-221","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The prosecutions<\/span> for offenses<\/span> against the Commonwealth, unless otherwise provided, shall be by presentment<\/span>, indictment<\/span> or information. While any form of presentment<\/span>, indictment<\/span> or information which informs the accused<\/span> of the nature and cause of the accusation against him shall be good the following shall be deemed sufficient for murder<\/span> and manslaughter<\/span>:\n\t\tCommonwealth of Virginia _______________ county (or city) to-wit: The grand jurors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in and for the body of the county (or city) of __________, upon their oaths<\/span> present that A __________ B __________, on the __________ day of __________, 20_____, in the county (or city) of __________ feloniously did kill and murder<\/span> one C __________ D __________ against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.\n\t\tA grand jury<\/span> may, in case of homicide<\/span>, which in their opinion<\/span> amounts to manslaughter<\/span> only, and not to murder<\/span>, find an indictment<\/span> against the accused<\/span> for manslaughter<\/span> and in such case the indictment<\/span> shall be sufficient if it be in form or effect as follows:\n\t\tCommonwealth of Virginia _______________ county (or city) to-wit: The grand jurors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in and for the body of the county (or city) of _______________, upon their oaths<\/span> present that A __________ B __________, on the __________ day of __________, 20_____, in the county (or city) of __________ feloniously and unlawfully did kill and slay one C __________ D __________, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFORM OF PROSECUTIONS GENERALLY; MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER (\u00a7 19.2-221)\n\nThe prosecutions for offenses against the Commonwealth, unless otherwise\nprovided, shall be by presentment, indictment or information. While any form of\npresentment, indictment or information which informs the accused of the nature\nand cause of the accusation against him shall be good the following shall be\ndeemed sufficient for murder and manslaughter:\n\t\tCommonwealth of Virginia _______________ county (or city) to-wit: The grand\njurors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in and for the body of the county (or\ncity) of __________, upon their oaths present that A __________ B __________, on\nthe __________ day of __________, 20_____, in the county (or city) of __________\nfeloniously did kill and murder one C __________ D __________ against the peace\nand dignity of the Commonwealth.\n\t\tA grand jury may, in case of homicide, which in their opinion amounts to\nmanslaughter only, and not to murder, find an indictment against the accused for\nmanslaughter and in such case the indictment shall be sufficient if it be in\nform or effect as follows:\n\t\tCommonwealth of Virginia _______________ county (or city) to-wit: The grand\njurors of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in and for the body of the county (or\ncity) of _______________, upon their oaths present that A __________ B\n__________, on the __________ day of __________, 20_____, in the county (or\ncity) of __________ feloniously and unlawfully did kill and slay one C\n__________ D __________, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 19.1-166; 1960, c. 366; 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}}