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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78523</law_id><section_number>19.2-215.7</section_number><catch_line>Warnings given to witnesses; when witness in contempt; use of testimony compelled after witness invokes right against self-incrimination</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="13">Grand Juries</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="4">Multi-Jurisdiction Grand Juries</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Every <span class="dictionary">witness</span> testifying before a multi-<span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> shall be warned by special <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> or by the <span class="dictionary">foreman</span> of the <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> that he need not answer any question that would tend to <span class="dictionary">incriminate</span> him, and that he may later be called upon to testify in any case that may result from the <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> proceedings. <a id="paragraph-281384" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-215.7/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">witness</span> who has been called to testify or produce <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> before a multi-<span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span>, and who refuses to testify or produce <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> by expressly invoking his right not to <span class="dictionary">incriminate</span> himself, may be compelled to testify or produce <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> by the presiding <span class="dictionary">judge</span>. A <span class="dictionary">witness</span> who refuses to testify or produce <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> after being ordered to do so by the presiding <span class="dictionary">judge</span> may be held in <span class="dictionary">contempt</span> and may be incarcerated until the <span class="dictionary">contempt</span> is purged by compliance with the <span class="dictionary">order</span>. <a id="paragraph-281385" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-215.7/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> When a <span class="dictionary">witness</span> is compelled to testify or produce <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> after expressly invoking his right not to <span class="dictionary">incriminate</span> himself, and the presiding <span class="dictionary">judge</span> has determined that the assertion of the right is bona fide, the compelled <span class="dictionary">testimony</span>, or any information directly or indirectly derived from such <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> or other information, shall not be used against the <span class="dictionary">witness</span> in any criminal proceeding except a <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> for <span class="dictionary">perjury</span>. <a id="paragraph-281386" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-215.7/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1983, c. 543.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
