What are the case outcomes for Contempt of Court in Virginia Beach?

Based on 257 cases in Virginia Beach (2025 public records), 61.5% are dismissed, 46.0% result in a guilty plea, and 0.6% end in acquittal. The median case takes 3.0 months. Individual outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case.

What is the dismissal rate for Contempt of Court in Virginia Beach?

The dismissal rate is 61.5%, based on 257 cases from 2025 public court records. This includes judicial dismissals and nolle prosequi (cases dropped by the prosecutor).

How long does a Contempt of Court case take in Virginia Beach?

The median case takes 3.0 months. The fastest 25% resolve in 1.5 months, while the slowest 25% take 5.9 months or longer. Duration depends on factors specific to each case.

What is the conviction rate for Contempt of Court in Virginia Beach?

The conviction rate for Contempt of Court in Virginia Beach is 52.4%, based on 257 cases from 2025 public court records. This includes guilty pleas and findings of guilt at trial.

What does the data show about charge reductions for Contempt of Court in Virginia Beach?

2.7% of Contempt of Court cases in Virginia Beach are amended to a lesser charge based on 2025 court records. The most common reduction is to Fail To Appear-Fel./Misd./Sumons.

What's the difference between General District Court and Circuit Court for Contempt of Court in Virginia Beach?

Most Contempt of Court cases in Virginia Beach are heard in General District Court (54 cases in 2025), where 61.5% are dismissed and the median case takes 1.3 months. 203 cases were heard in Circuit Court — typically jury trials, felonies, or appeals from District Court — where 43.1% are dismissed.

How does Virginia Beach compare to other courts for Contempt of Court?

Virginia Beach has a 61.5% dismissal rate for Contempt of Court. Visit the Contempt of Court overview page to compare dismissal rates, conviction rates, and case timelines across all Virginia jurisdictions.

What does the sentencing data show for Contempt of Court in Virginia Beach?

For those convicted of Contempt of Court in Virginia Beach, the average sentence recorded is 1.2 months (including suspended time). Actual sentences depend on the specifics of each case. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance on your situation.

Contempt of Court in Virginia Beach, VA

If you've been charged with contempt of court in Virginia Beach — this page shows what typically happens. Most cases (54 of 257) were heard in General District Court, where 61.5% were dismissed or dropped and the median case took 1.3 months. 203 cases moved to Circuit Court — typically jury trials, felonies, or appeals from District Court.

61.5%

Dismissal Rate

● vs 61.6% statewide

52.4%

Conviction Rate

▲ vs 36.4% statewide

3.0 months

Median Duration

I Outcomes

Case Outcomes — General District Court

How 54 General District Court cases in Virginia Beach were resolved in 2025. This is where most Contempt of Court cases start.

Exhibit · Case-outcome distribution

57.7%

38.5%

Dismissed by judge 57.7% (n=30) Dropped by prosecutor (nolle prosequi) 3.8% (n=2) Guilty Plea 38.5% Found Guilty 0.0% Acquitted 0.0%

Largest outcomeDismissed by judge — 57.7% of 52 resolved cases.

Source: 54 General District Court records, Virginia Beach, 2025 — VirginiaCourtFile.com

Exhibit · How Virginia Beach compares

Dismissal rates for Contempt of Court in this and peer jurisdictions, 2025. Peers are the highest-volume neighboring jurisdictions in the same region.

Virginia BeachThis page 61.5% 257 cases

Norfolk 63.2% 80 cases Chesapeake 57.1% 40 cases Newport News 78.3% 38 cases York County 50.0% 33 cases

Statewide average 61.6% all Virginia

Click any peer for its full record. Bar lengths are scaled to the highest rate shown.

Filed in Virginia Beach General District Court? See the full General District Court record — charge mix, judges, and officer activity.

If your case goes to Circuit Court · 203 Contempt of Court cases in 2025

A small share of Contempt of Court cases in Virginia Beach are heard in Circuit Court — typically jury trials, felonies, or appeals from General District Court. Outcomes look different at this level.

27.6%

15.4%

48.0%

Dismissed 27.6% (n=34) Nolle prosequi 15.4% (n=19) Guilty Plea 48.0% Found Guilty 8.1% Acquitted 0.8%

Sentencing When Convicted

1.2 months

Avg Sentence

8 days

Median Sentence

$159

Avg Fine

Charge Reductions

When the original charge is amended to a lesser offense, usually through negotiation between the attorney and prosecutor.

Exhibit · Charge-reduction patterns

2.7% of Contempt of Court cases
in Virginia Beach are reduced

7 cases had their charge amended to a lesser offense.

Most common reductions

Contempt of Court Fail To Appear-Fel./Misd./Sumons

3 cases · 42.9% of reductions

Contempt of Court Fail To Appear, Misd. Offense

2 cases · 28.6% of reductions

Contempt of Court Failure To Appear

1 cases · 14.3% of reductions

Case Duration

Time from filing to final disposition — half of cases resolve faster than the median.

Exhibit · Case duration

Fastest 25% 1.5 months

Median 3.0 months

Slowest 25% 5.9 months

Defense Attorneys with Contempt of Court Cases in Virginia Beach

Attorneys whose primary jurisdiction is Virginia Beach and who appeared as defense counsel of record on Contempt of Court cases in 2025. Listed by case count.

Amber Torgerson 7 of 41 total R Williams 3 of 51 total Jennifer Howland-Smith 3 of 43 total Sarah Murphy 3 of 38 total Carrie Schenk 3 of 38 total K Smith 3 of 35 total John O Venner 2 of 36 total Charles L; Iii Pincus 2 of 34 total Matthew Cramer 1 of 42 total A Miller 1 of 37 total

Counts are each attorney's full 2025 caseload statewide. Click any name for their jurisdiction + outcome breakdown.

All Virginia defense attorneys

Commonwealth's Attorney Office — Virginia Beach

7,065 circuit court filings prosecuted by the Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney in 2025. Office-level data — direct-indictment rate, disposition mix, trial activity. View office records →

III Background

Arresting Officers — Dismissal Rates

Officers whose Contempt of Court arrests in Virginia Beach are dismissed most frequently. Minimum 10 cases.

Court 61.5% 54 cases

Ranking shows officers in this jurisdiction with the highest Contempt of Court dismissal rates (minimum 10 cases). Click any name for their full record.

All arresting officers in Virginia Beach

Common Questions

Statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Past outcomes do not predict future results. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance on your case.

What's the difference between General District Court and Circuit Court?

In Virginia, most Contempt of Court cases start in General District Court — that's where the 54 cases shown above were heard. Cases can move to Circuit Court for jury trials, felony indictments, or appeals from District Court. 203 Contempt of Court cases were heard in Virginia Beach Circuit Court in 2025, where 43.1% were dismissed and 56.1% resulted in conviction.

Can a Contempt of Court charge be reduced to something lesser?

2.7% of Contempt of Court cases in Virginia Beach were amended to a lesser charge in 2025. The most common reduction was to Fail To Appear-Fel./Misd./Sumons (3 cases), followed by Fail To Appear, Misd. Offense (2 cases). Whether a reduction is available depends on the specifics of the case and is typically negotiated between the defense attorney and the prosecutor.

How does Virginia Beach compare to other Virginia courts?

Virginia Beach has a 61.5% dismissal rate for Contempt of Court cases. Outcomes vary significantly across Virginia courts. View the Contempt of Court overview to compare dismissal rates, conviction rates, and case timelines across every jurisdiction.

Where does this data come from and how often is it updated?

All figures on this page come from Virginia's public Case Information System (CIS) and District Court system, calendar year 2025 onward. The dataset is refreshed quarterly. See methodology for definitions, denominators, and known coverage gaps.

Cite this page

VirginiaCourtFile.com (2026). Contempt of Court Outcomes — Virginia Beach, Virginia. Based on 257 public court records, 2025; last updated May 2, 2026. https://www.virginiacourtfile.com/charges/contempt-of-court/virginia-beach

Other Charges in Virginia Beach

Reckless Driving

3,164 cases · 9.9% dismissed

DUI / DWI

1,555 cases · 4.8% dismissed

Larceny / Theft

1,528 cases · 39.1% dismissed

Weapons Offense

1,441 cases · 40.8% dismissed