<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62590</law_id><section_number>19.2-217.1</section_number><catch_line>Central file of aggravated murder indictments</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="14">Presentments, Indictments and Informations</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Necessity for Indictment, Etc</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon the return by a <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> of an <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> for aggravated <span class="dictionary">murder</span> and the <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> of the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span>, the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which such <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> is returned shall forthwith file a certified copy of the <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> with the clerk of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of Virginia. All such <span class="dictionary">indictments</span> shall be maintained in a single place by the clerk of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span>, and shall be available to members of the public upon request. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall not be (i) a basis upon which an <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> may be quashed or deemed invalid; (ii) deemed error upon which a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> may be reversed or a sentence vacated; or (iii) a basis upon which a <span class="dictionary">court</span> may prevent or delay execution of a sentence.</p></section></text><history>1993, c. 319; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 344, 345.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
