                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITION OF INDICTMENT, PRESENTMENT AND INFORMATION (§ 19.2-216)

An indictment is a written accusation of crime, prepared by the attorney for the
Commonwealth and returned &#8220;a true bill&#8221; upon the oath or affirmation
of a legally impanelled grand jury.
		A presentment is a written accusation of crime prepared and returned by a
grand jury from their own knowledge or observation, without any bill of
indictment laid before them.
		An information is a written accusation of crime or a complaint for forfeiture
of property or money or for imposition of a penalty, prepared and presented by a
competent public official upon his oath of office.

HISTORY: 1975, c. 495.