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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61499</law_id><section_number>19.2-237</section_number><catch_line>Process on indictment or presentment for misdemeanor</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>On any <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> or <span class="dictionary">presentment</span> for a <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> process shall be issued immediately. If the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> appear and plead to the charge, the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> shall proceed without delay, unless good cause for <span class="dictionary">continuance</span> be shown. If, in any <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> case the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> fails to appear and plead, when required the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may either award a <span class="dictionary">capias</span> or proceed to <span class="dictionary">trial</span> in the same manner as if the <span class="dictionary">accused</span> had appeared, plead not guilty and waived <span class="dictionary">trial</span> by <span class="dictionary">jury</span>, provided, that the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall not in any such case enforce a jail sentence.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 19.1-180, 19.1-184; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495; 1979, c. 468.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
