No person who is arrested on a charge of felony shall be denied a preliminary hearing upon the question of whether there is reasonable ground to believe that he committed the offense and no indictment shall be returned in a court of record against any such person prior to such hearing unless such hearing is waived in writing by the accused.
Code 1950, § 19.1-163.1; 1960, c. 389; 1975, c. 495.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 19.2 - Criminal Procedure
Chapter 14 - Presentments, Indictments and Informations
§ 19.2-216. Definition of indictment, presentment and information
§ 19.2-217.1. Central file of aggravated murder indictments
§ 19.2-218. Preliminary hearing required for person arrested on charge of felony; waiver
§ 19.2-218.1. Preliminary hearings involving certain sexual crimes against spouses
§ 19.2-219. When capias need not be issued; summons; judgment
§ 19.2-220. Contents of indictment in general
§ 19.2-221. Form of prosecutions generally; murder and manslaughter
§ 19.2-223. Charging several acts of embezzlement; description of money
§ 19.2-224. In prosecution for forgery, unnecessary to set forth copy of forged instrument
§ 19.2-225. Allegation of intent
§ 19.2-226. What defects in indictments not to vitiate them
§ 19.2-227. When judgment not to be arrested or reversed
§ 19.2-229. When complaining witness required to give security for costs
§ 19.2-230. Bill of particulars
§ 19.2-231. Amendment of indictment, presentment or information
§ 19.2-232. What process to be awarded against accused on indictment, etc.
§ 19.2-233. How awarded, directed, returnable and executed
§ 19.2-234. Procedure when person arrested under capias
§ 19.2-235. Clerks to mail process to officers in other counties, etc.
§ 19.2-236. Where process of arrest may be executed
§ 19.2-237. Process on indictment or presentment for misdemeanor
§ 19.2-238. Summons against corporation; proceedings; expense of publication