Contempt of Court in Virginia
12,362 cases across 84 jurisdictions · 2023–2024
According to 12,362 public court records from 2023–2024, Contempt of Court cases across 84 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 69.1% and an average conviction rate of 29.5%. Statewide, 1.9% of Contempt of Court charges are reduced to a lesser offense. The average fine is $122.
Facing Contempt of Court charges in Virginia? Dismissal rates range from 2.6% to 99.5% depending on the court. An attorney who knows your court can tell you what this means — free, no obligation.
Ask a Virginia attorney — freeDismissal rate includes judicial dismissals and nolle prosequi (prosecutor-dropped cases). Conviction rate includes guilty pleas and findings of guilt at trial. Rates are averaged across 84 jurisdictions with available data. Data covers 2023–2024 public court records. Last updated: December 2024
Select Your Jurisdiction
Outcomes vary significantly by court. Type your county or city below to find it quickly.
Comparison by Court
| Jurisdiction | Cases | Dismissal Rate | Conviction Rate | Median Duration | Avg Fine | Avg Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell County | 2,334 | 99.5% | 0.5% | 2.1 months | $50 | 8 days |
| Virginia Beach | 860 | 46.7% | 51.2% | 6.5 months | $122 | 1.4 months |
| Henrico County | 699 | 58.7% | 39.2% | 4.9 months | $100 | 10 days |
| Buchanan County | 636 | 92.2% | 7.8% | 3.3 months | $50 | 15 days |
| Augusta County | 524 | 55.1% | 44.7% | 2.9 months | $65 | 17 days |
| Hanover County | 471 | 31.2% | 63.5% | 3.0 months | $90 | 11 days |
| Chesterfield County | 454 | 61.4% | 38.1% | 3.9 months | $232 | 23 days |
| Page County | 324 | 77.8% | 21.1% | 1.4 years | $275 | 3.4 months |
| Waynesboro | 289 | 63.4% | 35.4% | 5.1 months | $50 | 2.0 months |
| Norfolk | 269 | 82.9% | 12.3% | 1.3 months | $250 | 11 days |
| Campbell County | 212 | 32.9% | 60.1% | 6.1 months | $117 | 10 days |
| Rockingham County | 211 | 44.7% | 54.7% | 4.0 months | $88 | 22 days |
| Salem | 185 | 71.4% | 28.6% | 2.2 months | — | 14 days |
| Newport News | 182 | 84.2% | 15.1% | 3.0 months | $188 | 1.3 months |
| Chesapeake | 179 | 66.4% | 32.8% | 6.8 months | $125 | 2.9 months |
| Roanoke County | 169 | 73.0% | 26.3% | 2.8 months | $208 | 13 days |
| Roanoke City | 161 | 74.3% | 25.7% | 1.3 months | $83 | 8 days |
| Bedford County | 159 | 40.8% | 59.2% | 3.0 months | $115 | 9 days |
| Wise County | 155 | 62.0% | 38.0% | 5.2 months | — | 1.1 months |
| Martinsville | 147 | 84.6% | 15.4% | 3.0 months | $67 | 19 days |
| Lynchburg | 131 | 75.7% | 20.9% | 7.5 months | $212 | 13 days |
| Henry County | 126 | 79.0% | 21.0% | 3.3 months | $175 | 1.5 months |
| Prince William County | 123 | 71.9% | 28.1% | 4.0 months | — | 22 days |
| Frederick County | 120 | 76.7% | 23.3% | 5.7 months | — | 11 days |
| Radford | 120 | 89.9% | 10.1% | 9.1 months | — | 1.7 years |
| Culpeper County | 118 | 88.1% | 8.9% | 2.3 months | $250 | 1.1 months |
| York County | 113 | 36.8% | 62.1% | 3.5 months | $400 | 10 days |
| Arlington County | 112 | 76.6% | 23.4% | 6.6 months | $150 | 7 days |
| Prince Edward County | 100 | 93.2% | 6.8% | 1.1 years | $50 | 3.0 months |
| Rockbridge County | 96 | 56.0% | 40.0% | 4.3 months | $188 | 1.5 months |
| Scott County | 94 | 46.3% | 52.4% | 1.8 years | $667 | 2.6 months |
| Stafford County | 92 | 26.0% | 69.9% | 2.6 months | — | 9 days |
| Portsmouth | 88 | 66.2% | 31.0% | 1.5 years | $33 | 7 days |
| Fairfax County | 84 | 63.9% | 36.1% | 6.7 months | $100 | 7 days |
| Halifax County | 80 | 61.9% | 38.1% | 2.1 months | — | 29 days |
| Staunton | 79 | 36.6% | 63.4% | 2.5 months | — | 1.2 months |
| Amherst County | 77 | 73.0% | 23.8% | 6.3 months | — | 12 days |
| Tazewell County | 77 | 2.6% | 97.4% | 10.7 months | — | 13 days |
| Botetourt County | 74 | 49.1% | 47.4% | 2.9 months | $94 | 1.1 months |
| Colonial Heights | 74 | 56.5% | 41.3% | 5.9 months | — | 1.8 months |
| Danville | 72 | 51.9% | 30.8% | 1.3 months | $250 | 9 days |
| Orange County | 72 | 60.0% | 32.0% | 3.8 months | — | 9 days |
| Spotsylvania County | 70 | 65.3% | 34.7% | 2.8 months | $250 | 2.8 months |
| Mecklenburg County | 69 | 73.9% | 26.1% | 2.2 months | $250 | 8 days |
| Winchester | 64 | 77.8% | 22.2% | 4.0 months | — | 3.6 months |
| Hopewell | 63 | 45.3% | 50.9% | 3.0 months | $80 | 1.8 months |
| Williamsburg | 61 | 28.6% | 69.4% | 4.2 months | $25 | 11 days |
| Shenandoah County | 57 | 88.1% | 11.9% | 8.0 months | — | 1.0 months |
| Suffolk | 57 | 41.7% | 56.2% | 5.2 months | $50 | 8 days |
| Floyd County | 56 | 18.2% | 81.8% | 7.9 months | $150 | 12 days |
| Richmond City | 56 | 12.8% | 83.0% | 6.1 months | $183 | 10 days |
| Alleghany County | 50 | 48.8% | 48.8% | 1.5 months | — | 1.0 months |
| Cumberland County | 50 | 91.4% | 8.6% | 11.8 months | — | 17 days |
| Albemarle County | 48 | 62.8% | 37.2% | 1.6 months | — | 1.6 months |
| Patrick County | 45 | 73.0% | 27.0% | 3.2 months | $100 | 8 days |
| Franklin County | 43 | 44.4% | 44.4% | 2.3 months | $175 | 10 days |
| Nelson County | 41 | 97.1% | 2.9% | 7.5 months | — | — |
| Goochland County | 40 | 58.8% | 41.2% | 7.1 months | — | 2.6 months |
| Warren County | 40 | 78.1% | 18.8% | 1.7 months | $25 | 10 days |
| Fauquier County | 38 | 96.3% | 3.7% | 5.2 months | — | 10 days |
| Loudoun County | 38 | 69.6% | 30.4% | 3.0 months | $125 | 4 days |
| Emporia | 37 | 46.9% | 53.1% | 4.1 months | $83 | 1.4 months |
| Powhatan County | 35 | 86.7% | 13.3% | 6.1 months | — | 10 days |
| Washington County | 34 | 65.5% | 34.5% | 3.1 months | $1,000 | 2.0 months |
| Giles County | 33 | 83.3% | 16.7% | 7.7 months | $100 | 8 days |
| Lee County | 33 | 59.3% | 40.7% | 3.8 months | — | 26 days |
| Southampton County | 33 | 66.7% | 25.0% | 3.7 months | — | 9 days |
| Grayson County | 31 | 90.0% | 10.0% | 3.5 months | $25 | 10 days |
| Pittsylvania County | 31 | 47.8% | 47.8% | 2.7 months | $100 | 4.0 months |
| Appomattox County | 30 | 73.9% | 26.1% | 2.1 months | — | 1.9 months |
| Lunenburg County | 30 | 92.3% | 3.8% | 4.2 months | — | 10 days |
| Nottoway County | 29 | 65.2% | 34.8% | 1.8 months | — | 10 days |
| Hampton | 27 | 66.7% | 33.3% | 6.9 months | $375 | 10 days |
| New Kent County | 27 | 25.0% | 70.8% | 4.2 months | $250 | 1.9 months |
| Fluvanna County | 26 | 77.3% | 22.7% | 4.0 months | $100 | 2.2 months |
| Petersburg | 26 | 47.4% | 47.4% | 3.7 months | $25 | 1.1 months |
| Pulaski County | 26 | 47.1% | 52.9% | 1.9 months | — | 8 days |
| Montgomery County | 23 | 88.2% | 11.8% | 4.4 months | — | 2 days |
| Greensville County | 22 | 83.3% | 16.7% | 2.0 months | — | 9.0 months |
| Smyth County | 21 | 38.1% | 61.9% | 4.5 months | $100 | 9 days |
| Bristol | 20 | 40.0% | 50.0% | 3.1 months | $100 | 1.3 months |
| Clarke County | 20 | 92.3% | 7.7% | 1.1 years | — | 10 days |
| Craig County | 20 | 84.2% | 15.8% | 3.3 months | $100 | — |
| Wythe County | 20 | 73.3% | 26.7% | 1.3 months | — | 22 days |
Source: Virginia public court records, 2023–2024 — VirginiaCourtFile.com
Case Dismissed?
If your Contempt of Court case was dismissed or dropped, you may be eligible to have it sealed from your record.
Data source: Virginia public court records, 2023–2024. 12,362 cases analyzed across 84 jurisdictions. Last updated December 2024. — VirginiaCourtFile.com
Common Questions
Statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Past outcomes do not predict future results.
What's Next
Contempt of Court dismissal rates range from 3% to 100% across Virginia. Your court matters. An attorney who handles Contempt of Court cases in your court can review your case — free.
Want data specific to your court and situation? Check your case