Drug Possession in Virginia
73,463 cases across 119 jurisdictions · 2023–2024
According to 73,463 public court records from 2023–2024, Drug Possession cases across 119 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 48.1% and an average conviction rate of 51.4%. Statewide, 9.8% of Drug Possession charges are reduced to a lesser offense. The average fine is $377.
Facing Drug Possession charges in Virginia? Dismissal rates range from 22.8% to 87.8% 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 119 jurisdictions with available data. Data covers 2023–2024 public court records. Last updated: December 2024
73,463
Total Cases
48.1%
Avg Dismissal Rate
51.4%
Avg Conviction Rate
$377
Avg Fine
2.8 years
Avg Sentence
9.8%
Charge Reduction Rate
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henrico County | 4,802 | 43.5% | 56.2% | 3.7 months | $360 | 4.1 years |
| Fairfax County | 4,400 | 66.3% | 33.5% | 7.0 months | $264 | 3.7 months |
| Prince William County | 4,274 | 51.6% | 48.3% | 5.4 months | $182 | 7.1 months |
| Chesterfield County | 2,740 | 63.5% | 36.1% | 4.3 months | $148 | 1.7 years |
| Stafford County | 2,380 | 42.4% | 57.2% | 3.7 months | $349 | 2.6 years |
| Montgomery County | 2,365 | 29.3% | 69.9% | 4.6 months | $346 | 3.2 years |
| Virginia Beach | 2,347 | 70.5% | 29.4% | 4.2 months | $149 | 2.0 years |
| Rockingham County | 2,180 | 31.6% | 68.2% | 4.6 months | $316 | 2.8 years |
| Newport News | 2,155 | 57.3% | 41.9% | 5.1 months | $180 | 3.2 years |
| Tazewell County | 1,946 | 51.9% | 48.0% | 6.4 months | $266 | 2.2 years |
| Chesapeake | 1,746 | 83.6% | 16.0% | 3.8 months | $2,195 | 2.8 years |
| Lynchburg | 1,610 | 39.8% | 58.3% | 4.4 months | $234 | 2.3 years |
| Arlington County | 1,151 | 59.5% | 39.9% | 6.7 months | $459 | 1.5 years |
| Warren County | 1,127 | 43.2% | 56.8% | 3.7 months | $215 | 2.5 years |
| Page County | 1,088 | 27.5% | 71.4% | 4.3 months | $212 | 3.0 years |
| Scott County | 1,081 | 24.5% | 75.2% | 6.7 months | $615 | 3.1 years |
| Washington County | 1,008 | 39.4% | 60.6% | 5.0 months | $938 | 4.6 years |
| Franklin County | 992 | 45.3% | 54.7% | 4.7 months | $117 | 2.8 years |
| Richmond City | 964 | 55.2% | 43.9% | 3.2 months | $154 | 1.5 years |
| Spotsylvania County | 961 | 51.2% | 47.6% | 2.9 months | $150 | 2.6 years |
| Roanoke City | 955 | 40.3% | 59.5% | 1.3 months | $97 | 1.5 years |
| Augusta County | 914 | 36.0% | 64.0% | 5.7 months | $278 | 3.1 years |
| Carroll County | 901 | 28.9% | 70.9% | 9.5 months | $487 | 4.1 years |
| Loudoun County | 900 | 56.4% | 43.4% | 5.5 months | $4,073 | 2.1 years |
| Hanover County | 859 | 43.1% | 56.3% | 4.2 months | $159 | 3.8 years |
| Culpeper County | 829 | 34.3% | 64.8% | 3.6 months | $357 | 5.7 years |
| Fredericksburg | 813 | 40.0% | 58.2% | 3.0 months | $525 | 2.6 years |
| Winchester | 762 | 36.2% | 63.8% | 3.3 months | $500 | 2.4 years |
| Wythe County | 742 | 35.6% | 63.8% | 6.4 months | $167 | 4.8 years |
| Frederick County | 734 | 42.3% | 57.4% | 4.0 months | $202 | 2.0 years |
| Alleghany County | 730 | 44.4% | 54.0% | 2.9 months | $250 | 2.7 years |
| Norfolk | 730 | 32.9% | 67.1% | 3.2 months | $115 | 1.3 years |
| Wise County | 724 | 46.6% | 53.0% | 6.5 months | $518 | 4.6 years |
| Staunton | 673 | 28.7% | 71.3% | 3.7 months | $200 | 2.7 years |
| Danville | 623 | 44.9% | 53.6% | 3.5 months | $194 | 4.7 years |
| Lee County | 615 | 39.6% | 60.4% | 4.4 months | $725 | 5.5 years |
| Petersburg | 602 | 53.7% | 44.2% | 6.0 months | $117 | 5.7 years |
| Grayson County | 575 | 22.8% | 77.2% | 7.3 months | $200 | 4.5 years |
| Campbell County | 568 | 31.5% | 68.1% | 5.9 months | $191 | 2.4 years |
| Shenandoah County | 563 | 39.5% | 60.5% | 6.3 months | $269 | 2.2 years |
| Gloucester County | 561 | 34.8% | 63.9% | 3.3 months | $1,288 | 4.0 years |
| Bristol | 550 | 67.0% | 33.0% | 4.5 months | $160 | 7.3 months |
| Roanoke County | 547 | 64.2% | 35.8% | 3.0 months | $265 | 2.0 years |
| Halifax County | 529 | 31.2% | 68.8% | 4.7 months | $246 | 7.5 years |
| Hampton | 526 | 46.1% | 51.6% | 4.7 months | $210 | 1.6 years |
| Rockbridge County | 509 | 31.3% | 68.7% | 5.2 months | $209 | 3.1 years |
| Hopewell | 504 | 49.5% | 50.2% | 4.5 months | $200 | 6.1 years |
| Fauquier County | 490 | 55.1% | 44.9% | 4.3 months | $488 | 1.8 years |
| Colonial Heights | 473 | 52.8% | 46.9% | 4.0 months | $62 | 5.8 years |
| Pulaski County | 461 | 48.8% | 51.2% | 3.4 months | $146 | 3.1 years |
| Prince George County | 455 | 49.8% | 48.9% | 6.0 months | $175 | 7.1 years |
| Suffolk | 452 | 46.0% | 53.5% | 4.0 months | $78 | 2.6 years |
| Russell County | 431 | 36.5% | 61.7% | 5.1 months | $467 | 3.5 years |
| Alexandria | 401 | 49.4% | 50.6% | 3.4 months | $144 | 4.9 months |
| Portsmouth | 397 | 42.1% | 57.6% | 3.2 months | $125 | 1.1 years |
| Louisa County | 386 | 49.1% | 50.0% | 5.8 months | $175 | 3.5 years |
| Waynesboro | 382 | 28.2% | 71.8% | 4.6 months | — | 3.5 years |
| Bedford County | 380 | 68.4% | 31.6% | 3.3 months | $250 | 1.6 years |
| Buchanan County | 356 | 34.0% | 66.0% | 6.6 months | $221 | 1.9 years |
| Radford | 350 | 37.5% | 62.5% | 1.1 years | $290 | 8.4 years |
| Dickenson County | 346 | 48.1% | 51.9% | 6.7 months | $174 | 3.4 years |
| York County | 341 | 50.8% | 47.0% | 4.2 months | $450 | 3.5 years |
| Amherst County | 316 | 47.0% | 51.8% | 4.2 months | $269 | 4.6 years |
| New Kent County | 313 | 53.5% | 46.5% | 4.6 months | $917 | 6.0 years |
| King George County | 306 | 60.0% | 40.0% | 4.1 months | $225 | 2.1 years |
| Smyth County | 300 | 65.7% | 28.4% | 4.0 months | $50 | 1.6 years |
| Salem | 289 | 75.7% | 24.3% | 1.4 months | — | 1.5 years |
| Williamsburg | 281 | 50.3% | 47.8% | 4.5 months | $150 | 6.0 years |
| Orange County | 269 | 41.3% | 58.7% | 5.7 months | $419 | 4.4 years |
| Mecklenburg County | 259 | 37.7% | 57.9% | 5.2 months | $283 | 9.4 years |
| Bland County | 244 | 55.0% | 45.0% | 5.8 months | $900 | 2.9 years |
| Galax | 237 | 87.8% | 12.2% | 3.5 months | $162 | 8.1 months |
| Caroline County | 222 | 39.4% | 59.6% | 3.6 months | $100 | 3.2 years |
| Albemarle County | 209 | 64.7% | 35.3% | 5.1 months | $50 | 1.2 years |
| Floyd County | 209 | 35.1% | 64.9% | 6.9 months | $250 | 2.5 years |
| Buckingham County | 206 | 41.6% | 58.4% | 6.1 months | $500 | 6.5 years |
| Isle of Wight County | 193 | 52.3% | 47.7% | 5.1 months | $190 | 2.2 years |
| Martinsville | 191 | 85.0% | 15.0% | 3.1 months | $100 | 9.4 months |
| Buena Vista | 186 | 28.6% | 70.4% | 3.8 months | $138 | 2.3 years |
| Accomack County | 179 | 38.5% | 61.5% | 5.1 months | $138 | 3.5 years |
| Prince Edward County | 154 | 43.4% | 56.6% | 6.1 months | $512 | 5.0 years |
| Westmoreland County | 151 | 70.7% | 29.3% | 7.6 months | $50 | 4.3 years |
| Greene County | 150 | 59.5% | 40.5% | 6.3 months | $250 | 3.1 years |
| Charlotte County | 137 | 50.0% | 50.0% | 4.3 months | $108 | 6.3 years |
| Greensville County | 124 | 39.7% | 60.3% | 5.1 months | $250 | 10.6 years |
| Henry County | 121 | 66.7% | 27.8% | 2.9 months | $100 | 1.0 years |
| Appomattox County | 118 | 26.9% | 69.2% | 4.7 months | $100 | 4.9 years |
| Botetourt County | 116 | 69.6% | 30.4% | 1.7 months | — | 3.8 years |
| Rappahannock County | 116 | 39.7% | 60.3% | 4.2 months | $283 | 1.8 years |
| Nelson County | 115 | 28.6% | 71.4% | 4.6 months | $175 | 1.5 years |
| Charlottesville | 107 | 83.8% | 16.2% | 6.6 months | — | 2.4 years |
| Nottoway County | 105 | 43.5% | 56.5% | 8.0 months | — | 5.7 years |
| Patrick County | 105 | 28.3% | 68.3% | 9.0 months | $500 | 3.6 years |
| Brunswick County | 100 | 37.7% | 62.3% | 4.9 months | $25 | 7.7 years |
| Goochland County | 95 | 43.1% | 53.4% | 7.8 months | $25 | 2.8 years |
| King William County | 90 | 57.1% | 38.1% | 4.5 months | $250 | 4.2 years |
| Powhatan County | 84 | 50.0% | 50.0% | 5.7 months | $283 | 4.2 years |
| Madison County | 82 | 48.3% | 51.7% | 4.3 months | $875 | 5.9 years |
| Dinwiddie County | 75 | 39.0% | 61.0% | 3.6 months | $842 | 3.9 years |
| Fluvanna County | 73 | 70.0% | 25.0% | 3.0 months | — | 3.8 years |
| Northampton County | 73 | 57.9% | 39.5% | 7.1 months | $331 | 3.9 years |
| Franklin City | 69 | 76.2% | 23.8% | 6.0 months | $100 | 2.0 months |
| Clarke County | 68 | 39.5% | 57.9% | 6.3 months | $250 | 2.4 years |
| Giles County | 67 | 77.8% | 11.1% | 3.6 months | — | 5.0 years |
| Southampton County | 55 | 66.7% | 33.3% | 6.1 months | — | 2.7 years |
| King and Queen County | 53 | 58.3% | 38.9% | 7.2 months | — | 5.2 years |
| Richmond County | 52 | 42.9% | 57.1% | 6.0 months | $25 | 3.1 years |
| Amelia County | 51 | 37.5% | 62.5% | 5.0 months | — | 4.7 years |
| Sussex County | 51 | 62.5% | 37.5% | 6.8 months | $150 | 4.0 years |
| Emporia | 46 | 64.7% | 35.3% | 4.7 months | $50 | 6.0 months |
| Essex County | 46 | 67.7% | 29.0% | 5.0 months | — | 3.9 years |
| Lunenburg County | 40 | 30.4% | 69.6% | 4.3 months | $100 | 10.0 years |
| Cumberland County | 39 | 40.0% | 60.0% | 1.3 years | — | 6.8 years |
| Bath County | 34 | 62.5% | 37.5% | 6.3 months | — | 2.8 years |
| Northumberland County | 31 | 50.0% | 50.0% | 5.1 months | — | 5.5 years |
| Pittsylvania County | 30 | 85.7% | 14.3% | 4.1 months | $60 | 1.0 years |
| Craig County | 29 | 37.5% | 62.5% | 4.8 months | $100 | 2.4 years |
| Lancaster County | 24 | 69.2% | 30.8% | 4.7 months | — | 6.7 years |
| Middlesex County | 22 | 46.7% | 53.3% | 4.1 months | — | 2.4 years |
Source: Virginia public court records, 2023–2024 — VirginiaCourtFile.com
Compare Drug Possession to Related Charges
See how Drug Possession outcomes compare side-by-side with related charges across Virginia.
Related Virginia Statutes
Virginia Code sections associated with Drug Possession charges.
Case Dismissed?
If your Drug Possession case was dismissed or dropped, you may be eligible to have it sealed from your record.
Data source: Virginia public court records, 2023–2024. 73,463 cases analyzed across 119 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.
Galax has the highest dismissal rate for Drug Possession at 87.8%. Use the comparison table above to see how all Virginia jurisdictions compare for dismissal rates, conviction rates, and case timelines.
A total of 73,463 Drug Possession cases were filed across 119 Virginia jurisdictions in 2023–2024, with an average dismissal rate of 48.1%. Click on any jurisdiction above to see detailed statistics for that court.
The average conviction rate for Drug Possession across Virginia is 51.4%, based on 2023-2024 public court records. Rates vary by jurisdiction — use the comparison table above to see how each court differs. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Virginia attorney.
What's Next
Drug Possession dismissal rates range from 23% to 88% across Virginia. Your court matters. An attorney who handles Drug Possession cases in your court can review your case — free.
Want data specific to your court and situation? Check your case