Burglary / B&E in Fairfax County

Burglary and breaking-and-entering charges in Fairfax County are dismissed at a dramatically higher rate than across Virginia. The 97 percent dismissal rate in Fairfax County far exceeds the statewide average of 58.2 percent, a gap of nearly 39 percentage points across 712 cases. Only 3 percent of defendants are convicted in Fairfax County compared to the state pattern, and no defendants were acquitted at trial. This suggests that most burglary cases in this jurisdiction are resolved through dismissal rather than trial or conviction, indicating either evidentiary challenges or prosecutorial screening at intake that differs significantly from statewide norms.

When charges do proceed beyond dismissal, reductions are uncommon but follow a clear pattern. Only 3.2 percent of cases see the original charge reduced, most often to trespassing (50 percent of reductions). The median sentence for those convicted is 179 days, and cases typically resolve within a median of 185 days from filing. The interquartile range shows most cases close between 103 and 296 days, suggesting relatively consistent processing times despite the overwhelming majority being dismissed early.