Virginia Code 19.2-215.1: Functions of a multi-jurisdiction grand jury.
The functions of a multi-jurisdiction grand jury are:
Attorney's Note
Under the Virginia Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 felony | 5 to 20 years | up to $100,000 |
Terms Used In Virginia Code 19.2-215.1
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Court: means any court vested with appropriate jurisdiction under the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth. See Virginia Code 19.2-5
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
- Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
- sworn: means "affirm" or "affirmed. See Virginia Code 1-250
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- United States: includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-255
1. To investigate any condition that involves or tends to promote criminal violations of:
a. Title 10.1 for which punishment as a felony is authorized;
b. Section 13.1-520;
c. Sections 18.2-47 and 18.2-48;
d. Sections 18.2-111 and 18.2-112;
e. Article 6 (§ 18.2-59 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;
f. Article 7.1 (§ 18.2-152.1 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 18.2;
g. Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) and Article 1.1 (§ 18.2-265.1 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2;
h. Article 1 (§ 18.2-325 et seq.) and Article 1.1:1 (§ 18.2-340.15 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, Chapter 29 of Title 59.1 or any other provision prohibiting, limiting, regulating, or otherwise affecting gaming or gambling activity;
i. Section 18.2-434, when violations occur before a multi-jurisdiction grand jury;
j. Article 2 (§ 18.2-438 et seq.) and Article 3 (§ 18.2-446 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of Title 18.2;
k. Section 18.2-460 for which punishment as a felony is authorized;
l. Article 1.1 (§ 18.2-498.1 et seq.) of Chapter 12 of Title 18.2;
m. Article 1 (§ 32.1-310 et seq.) of Chapter 9 of Title 32.1;
o. Article 9 (§ 3.2-6570 et seq.) of Chapter 65 of Title 3.2;
p. Article 1 (§ 18.2-30 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;
q. Article 2.1 (§ 18.2-46.1 et seq.) and Article 2.2 (§ 18.2-46.4 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;
r. Article 5 (§ 18.2-186 et seq.) and Article 6 (§ 18.2-191 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 18.2;
t. Section 18.2-178 where the violation involves insurance fraud;
u. Section 18.2-346.01, 18.2-348, or 18.2-349 for which punishment as a felony is authorized or § 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, or 18.2-357.1;
v. Article 9 (§ 18.2-246.1 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 18.2;
w. Article 2 (§ 18.2-38 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;
x. Malicious felonious assault and malicious bodily wounding under Article 4 (§ 18.2-51 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;
y. Article 5 (§ 18.2-58 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;
z. Felonious sexual assault under Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2;
aa. Arson in violation of § 18.2-77 when the structure burned was occupied or a Class 3 felony violation of § 18.2-79;
ab. Chapter 13 of Title 18.2;
ac. Section 18.2-246.14 and Chapter 10 of Title 58.1;
ad. Subsection A or B of § 18.2-57 where the victim was selected because of his race, religious conviction, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or national origin;
ae. Section 18.2-121 for which punishment as a felony is authorized;
af. Article 5 (§ 18.2-420 et seq.) of Chapter 9 of Title 18.2;
ag. §§ 18.2-178.1 and 18.2-178.2;
ah. § 18.2-369; and
ai. Any other provision of law when such condition is discovered in the course of an investigation that a multi-jurisdiction grand jury is otherwise authorized to undertake and to investigate any condition that involves or tends to promote any attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to violate the laws enumerated in this section.
2. To report evidence of any criminal offense enumerated in subdivision 1 and for which a court reporter has recorded all oral testimony as provided by § 19.2-215.9 to the attorney for the Commonwealth or United States attorney of any jurisdiction where such offense could be prosecuted or investigated, or to the chief law-enforcement officer of any jurisdiction where such offense could be prosecuted or investigated, or to a sworn investigator designated pursuant to § 19.2-215.6, or, when appropriate, to the Attorney General.
3. To consider bills of indictment prepared by a special counsel to determine whether there is sufficient probable cause to return each such indictment as a “true bill.” Only bills of indictment which allege an offense enumerated in subdivision 1 may be submitted to a multi-jurisdiction grand jury.
4. The provisions of this section shall not abrogate the authority of an attorney for the Commonwealth in a particular jurisdiction to determine the course of a prosecution in that jurisdiction.
1983, c. 543; 1991, c. 616; 1995, c. 552; 2000, c. 359; 2002, cc. 588, 623; 2004, cc. 396, 435; 2008, c. 704; 2009, c. 491; 2011, c. 504; 2013, cc. 83, 314, 459; 2014, cc. 389, 422, 534; 2015, cc. 690, 691; 2019, c. 617; 2020, c. 747; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 188; 2024, c. 397.