Drug Distribution in Virginia
8,450 cases across 80 jurisdictions · 2025
Charge statistics were restated in July 2026 — cases are now grouped by the Virginia Code section charged. What changed and why
Of 8,450 drug distribution cases filed in 2025 across 80 Virginia jurisdictions, 4,640 reached an outcome — an average dismissal rate of 55.4% and an average conviction rate of 44.4%. Statewide, 12.0% of Drug Distribution charges are reduced to a lesser offense. The average fine is $729.
Dismissal 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 80 jurisdictions with available data. Data covers 2025 public court records. Last updated: July 8, 2026
Key takeaways
- Across 80 Virginia jurisdictions, Drug Distribution cases had an average dismissal rate of 55.4% and conviction rate of 44.4% in 2025 (8,450 cases).
- Dismissal rates ranged from 0.0% in Isle of Wight County to 100.0% in Prince George County among jurisdictions with drug distribution data.
- Statewide, 12.0% of Drug Distribution charges were reduced to a lesser offense.
Exhibit · Outcomes vary by court
Where Drug Distribution cases are dismissed or dropped, by jurisdiction
Across the 10 busiest courts90.9% in Fairfax County to 55.2% in Tazewell County — same charge, different result by court.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 549 | 62.1% | 37.9% | 8.7 months | $100 | 8.7 years |
| Rockingham County | 449 | 77.7% | 22.3% | 4.7 months | $500 | 2.9 years |
| Richmond City | 445 | 73.5% | 26.0% | 5.2 months | — | 6.7 years |
| Fairfax County | 305 | 90.9% | 9.1% | 6.5 months | $625 | 5.0 months |
| Prince William County | 300 | 78.4% | 21.6% | 5.7 months | — | 4.3 years |
| Norfolk | 286 | 70.8% | 28.7% | 4.8 months | $226 | 2.4 years |
| Henrico County | 273 | 69.5% | 30.5% | 5.5 months | $1,438 | 7.3 years |
| Chesterfield County | 220 | 75.9% | 24.1% | 5.8 months | $116 | 4.3 years |
| Spotsylvania County | 217 | 73.7% | 26.3% | 4.3 months | — | 7.4 years |
| Tazewell County | 206 | 55.2% | 44.8% | 7.7 months | $100 | 4.6 years |
| Virginia Beach | 201 | 77.6% | 22.4% | 5.6 months | $1,000 | 6.6 years |
| Newport News | 201 | 80.9% | 17.2% | 4.7 months | $138 | 3.4 years |
| Franklin County | 185 | 53.6% | 46.4% | 5.0 months | — | 7.2 years |
| Hampton | 177 | 72.0% | 28.0% | 5.7 months | — | 2.8 years |
| Lynchburg | 174 | 63.9% | 36.1% | 6.0 months | $512 | 4.0 years |
| Stafford County | 165 | 49.1% | 50.9% | 6.0 months | $250 | 6.1 years |
| Chesapeake | 164 | 81.5% | 17.6% | 4.7 months | $1,000 | 5.8 years |
| Roanoke City | 163 | 66.4% | 33.6% | 6.2 months | — | 5.2 years |
| Montgomery County | 149 | 48.7% | 51.3% | 5.6 months | $528 | 8.0 years |
| Buchanan County | 124 | 29.0% | 71.0% | 8.9 months | — | 5.0 years |
| Smyth County | 124 | 42.1% | 56.8% | 5.4 months | $1,981 | 19.3 years |
| Winchester | 121 | 53.5% | 46.5% | 4.3 months | $50 | 6.9 years |
| Warren County | 120 | 53.1% | 46.9% | 7.8 months | $175 | 6.3 years |
| Lee County | 114 | 2.3% | 97.7% | 6.6 months | $1,067 | 9.4 years |
| Wythe County | 113 | 42.3% | 57.7% | 7.3 months | — | 14.4 years |
| Augusta County | 113 | 60.3% | 39.7% | 3.7 months | $250 | 9.6 years |
| Bristol | 108 | 45.9% | 54.1% | 5.7 months | $2,789 | 5.7 years |
| Danville | 103 | 32.0% | 68.0% | 5.6 months | — | 13.2 years |
| Fredericksburg | 102 | 69.1% | 28.4% | 3.7 months | — | 7.6 years |
| Frederick County | 102 | 57.8% | 42.2% | 4.6 months | $174 | 9.0 years |
| Henry County | 99 | 46.6% | 53.4% | 7.2 months | $142 | 11.5 years |
| Bedford County | 98 | 36.7% | 63.3% | 8.4 months | $7,625 | 7.3 years |
| Russell County | 97 | 32.8% | 67.2% | 4.7 months | — | 6.4 years |
| Alexandria | 94 | 52.2% | 47.8% | 6.2 months | $450 | 3.1 years |
| Hanover County | 88 | 53.7% | 46.3% | 5.0 months | $631 | 5.8 years |
| Portsmouth | 86 | 90.0% | 10.0% | 4.6 months | $500 | 7.0 years |
| Arlington County | 82 | 87.2% | 12.8% | 6.3 months | — | 8.7 months |
| Staunton | 78 | 70.1% | 28.4% | 3.7 months | — | 9.4 years |
| Page County | 75 | 59.2% | 40.8% | 6.5 months | — | 7.0 years |
| Wise County | 72 | 42.9% | 57.1% | 7.0 months | $700 | 9.2 years |
| Martinsville | 70 | 64.0% | 36.0% | 7.7 months | $1,000 | 26.3 years |
| Washington County | 69 | 56.9% | 43.1% | 4.1 months | $833 | 12.4 years |
| Dickenson County | 67 | 55.6% | 44.4% | 11.1 months | — | 5.7 years |
| York County | 66 | 76.9% | 23.1% | 4.3 months | — | 8.5 years |
| Pulaski County | 64 | 44.8% | 55.2% | 4.8 months | $208 | 9.8 years |
| Campbell County | 63 | 49.7% | 50.3% | 5.6 months | $500 | 8.3 years |
| Culpeper County | 62 | 65.4% | 34.6% | 3.8 months | $2,857 | 28.6 years |
| Petersburg | 60 | 81.0% | 19.0% | 6.5 months | — | 5.9 years |
| Charlotte County | 58 | 53.3% | 46.7% | 1.1 years | — | 8.2 years |
| Botetourt County | 57 | 75.9% | 24.1% | 3.2 months | — | 7.7 years |
| Roanoke County | 49 | 71.8% | 28.2% | 4.3 months | — | 10.5 years |
| King George County | 42 | 52.5% | 47.5% | 7.5 months | — | 9.2 years |
| Scott County | 41 | 24.0% | 76.0% | 8.4 months | $1,344 | 9.8 years |
| Gloucester County | 38 | 16.2% | 83.8% | 3.9 months | — | 6.9 years |
| Halifax County | 38 | 26.9% | 73.1% | 7.2 months | — | 13.7 years |
| New Kent County | 37 | 66.7% | 33.3% | 5.2 months | $900 | 17.5 years |
| Loudoun County | 36 | 81.8% | 18.2% | 3.6 months | $250 | 5.4 months |
| Louisa County | 36 | 41.2% | 58.8% | 7.8 months | — | 13.0 years |
| Radford | 36 | 25.0% | 75.0% | 8.2 months | $3,250 | 12.2 years |
| Carroll County | 35 | 8.3% | 91.7% | 8.9 months | — | 7.3 years |
| Prince Edward County | 34 | 47.1% | 52.9% | 11.0 months | — | 11.6 years |
| Caroline County | 33 | 18.8% | 81.2% | 5.6 months | — | 11.9 years |
| Floyd County | 27 | 12.5% | 87.5% | 10.7 months | — | 2.7 years |
| Nottoway County | 26 | 53.3% | 40.0% | 8.2 months | — | 9.5 years |
| Pittsylvania County | 25 | 52.6% | 47.4% | 7.5 months | — | 8.4 years |
| Prince George County | 25 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 5.5 months | — | — |
| Rockbridge County | 25 | 66.7% | 33.3% | 8.1 months | $100 | 13.3 years |
| Shenandoah County | 25 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 7.8 months | — | — |
| Appomattox County | 24 | 9.1% | 90.9% | 5.5 months | — | 10.4 years |
| Essex County | 24 | 23.1% | 76.9% | 6.8 months | — | 13.6 years |
| Hopewell | 24 | 55.6% | 44.4% | 11.3 months | — | 16.2 years |
| Isle of Wight County | 24 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 1.0 years | — | 8.2 years |
| Fauquier County | 23 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 4.6 months | — | — |
| Alleghany County | 22 | 11.8% | 88.2% | 6.4 months | — | 11.0 years |
| Albemarle County | 21 | 90.0% | 10.0% | 4.4 months | — | 1.0 years |
| Clarke County | 21 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 5.5 months | — | — |
| Mathews County | 21 | 42.9% | 57.1% | 7.0 months | — | 6.3 years |
| Amherst County | 20 | 53.8% | 46.2% | 5.1 months | — | 20.8 years |
| Buckingham County | 20 | 71.4% | 28.6% | 11.0 months | — | 12.5 years |
| Mecklenburg County | 20 | 37.5% | 62.5% | 6.4 months | — | 34.0 years |
Source: Virginia public court records, 2025 — VirginiaCourtFile.com
Compare Drug Distribution to Related Charges
See how Drug Distribution outcomes compare side-by-side with related charges across Virginia.
Related Virginia Statutes
Virginia Code sections associated with Drug Distribution charges.
Case Dismissed?
If your Drug Distribution case was dismissed or dropped, you may be eligible to have it sealed from your record.
Data source: Virginia public court records, 2025. 8,450 cases analyzed across 80 jurisdictions. Last updated July 8, 2026. — 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
Drug Distribution dismissal rates range from 0% to 100% across Virginia. Your court matters. An attorney who handles Drug Distribution cases in your court can review your case — free.
Want data specific to your court and situation? Check your case