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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87050</law_id><section_number>19.2-232</section_number><catch_line>What process to be awarded against accused on indictment, etc</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="4">Process</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>When an <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> or <span class="dictionary">presentment</span> is found or made, or information filed, the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, or the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> thereof, shall award process against the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> to answer the same, if he be not in <span class="dictionary">custody</span>. Such process, if the <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> be for a <span class="dictionary">felony</span>, shall be a <span class="dictionary">capias</span>; if it be for a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>, for which imprisonment may be imposed, it may be a <span class="dictionary">capias</span> or <span class="dictionary">summons</span>, in the discretion of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">judge</span>; in all other cases, it shall be, in the first instance a <span class="dictionary">summons</span>, but if a <span class="dictionary">summons</span> be returned executed and the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> does not appear, or be returned not found, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or <span class="dictionary">judge</span> may award a <span class="dictionary">capias</span>. The officer serving the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> or <span class="dictionary">capias</span> shall also serve a copy of the <span class="dictionary">indictment</span>, <span class="dictionary">presentment</span>, or information therewith.
		If the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> is in <span class="dictionary">custody</span> when an <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> or <span class="dictionary">presentment</span> is found or made, or information is filed, and no process is awarded, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall so notify the <span class="dictionary">court</span> of such at the time of first <span class="dictionary">appearance</span> for each <span class="dictionary">indictment</span>, <span class="dictionary">presentment</span>, or information for which a report is required upon <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> pursuant to subsection A of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Reports to be made by local law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, clerks of court, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Corrections officials to State Police; material submitted by other agencies" href="/19.2-390/">19.2-390</a>, and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> that the fingerprints and photograph of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> be taken for each <span class="dictionary">offense</span> by a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer or by the agency that has <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> at the time of first <span class="dictionary">appearance</span>. The <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer or agency taking the fingerprints and photograph shall submit a report to the Central Criminal Records Exchange for each <span class="dictionary">offense</span> pursuant to subsection A of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Reports to be made by local law-enforcement officers, conservators of the peace, clerks of court, Secretary of the Commonwealth and Corrections officials to State Police; material submitted by other agencies" href="/19.2-390/">19.2-390</a>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 19.1-178; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495; 1980, c. 349; 2019, cc. 782, 783.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
