A. Special grand juries may be impanelled by a circuit court (i) at any time upon its own motion, (ii) upon recommendation of a minority of the members of a regular grand jury that a special grand jury be impanelled, to perform the functions provided for in subdivision (2) of § 19.2-191, or (iii) upon request of the attorney for the Commonwealth to investigate and report on any condition that involves or tends to promote criminal activity and consider bills of indictment to determine whether there is sufficient probable cause to return each such indictment as a "true bill."
B. A special grand jury shall be impanelled by a circuit court upon the recommendation of a majority of the members of a regular grand jury if the court finds probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed which should be investigated by a special grand jury impanelled to perform the functions provided for in subdivision (2) of § 19.2-191.
Code 1950, § 19.1-149; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495; 1978, c. 741; 1980, c. 134; 1987, c. 136; 2001, c. 4.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 19.2 - Criminal Procedure
§ 19.2-191. Functions of a grand jury
§ 19.2-192. Secrecy in grand jury proceedings
§ 19.2-192.1. Sealing of indictment
§ 19.2-193. Number of regular grand juries
§ 19.2-194. When and how grand jurors to be selected and summoned; lists to be delivered to clerk
§ 19.2-195. Number and qualifications of grand jurors
§ 19.2-196. How deficiency of jurors supplied
§ 19.2-197. Foreman of grand jury; oaths of jurors and witnesses
§ 19.2-198. When new foreman or juror may be sworn in
§ 19.2-199. Judge to charge grand jury
§ 19.2-200. Duties of grand jury
§ 19.2-201. Officers to give information of violation of penal laws to attorney for Commonwealth
§ 19.2-202. How indictments found and presentment made
§ 19.2-204. Penalties on officers and jurors for failure of duty
§ 19.2-205. Pay and mileage of grand jurors
§ 19.2-207. Composition of a special grand jury
§ 19.2-208. Subpoena power of special grand jury
§ 19.2-209. Presence of counsel for a witness
§ 19.2-210. Presence of attorney for the Commonwealth
§ 19.2-211. Provision for special counsel and other personnel
§ 19.2-212. Provision for court reporter; use and disposition of notes, tapes and transcriptions
§ 19.2-213. Report by special grand jury; return of true bill
§ 19.2-213.1. Discharge of special grand jury
§ 19.2-214. Prosecutions resulting from report
§ 19.2-215. Costs of special grand jury
§ 19.2-215.1. Functions of a multi-jurisdiction grand jury
§ 19.2-215.2. Application for such grand jury
§ 19.2-215.3. When impaneled; impaneling order
§ 19.2-215.5. Subpoena power; counsel for witness; oath
§ 19.2-215.6. Role and presence of special counsel; examination of witnesses; sworn investigators
§ 19.2-215.8. Returning a "true bill" of indictment; jurisdiction to be set out