Title 19.2. Criminal Procedure
Chapter 13. Grand Juries
Article 1. In General.
§ 19.2-191. Functions of a grand jury.The functions of a grand jury are twofold:
(1) To consider bills of indictment prepared by the attorney for the Commonwealth and to determine whether as to each such bill there is sufficient probable cause to return such indictment "a true bill."
(2) To investigate and report on any condition that involves or tends to promote criminal activity, either in the community or by any governmental authority, agency or official thereof. These functions may be exercised by either a special grand jury or a regular grand jury as hereinafter provided.
1975, c. 495; 1980, c. 517; 2001, c. 4.
§ 19.2-192. Secrecy in grand jury proceedings.Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every attorney for the Commonwealth, special counsel, sworn investigator, and member of a regular, special, or multi-jurisdiction grand jury shall keep secret all proceedings which occurred during sessions of the grand jury; provided, however, in a prosecution for perjury of a witness examined before a regular grand jury, a regular grand juror may be required by the court to testify as to the testimony given by such witness before the regular grand jury.
1975, c. 495; 2014, c. 389.
§ 19.2-192.1. Sealing of indictment.Upon ex parte motion by the Commonwealth and for good cause shown, the circuit court may seal an indictment until such time as the defendant is arrested.
2002, c. 130.