Drug Possession in Virginia
29,363 cases across 101 jurisdictions · 2025
Charge statistics were restated in July 2026 — cases are now grouped by the Virginia Code section charged. What changed and why
Of 29,363 drug possession cases filed in 2025 across 101 Virginia jurisdictions, 14,791 reached an outcome — an average dismissal rate of 41.1% and an average conviction rate of 58.4%. Statewide, 10.7% of Drug Possession charges are reduced to a lesser offense. The average fine is $225.
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 101 jurisdictions with available data. Data covers 2025 public court records. Last updated: July 8, 2026
Key takeaways
- Across 101 Virginia jurisdictions, Drug Possession cases had an average dismissal rate of 41.1% and conviction rate of 58.4% in 2025 (29,363 cases).
- Dismissal rates ranged from 7.4% in Grayson County to 83.3% in Franklin City among jurisdictions with drug possession data.
- Statewide, 10.7% of Drug Possession charges were reduced to a lesser offense.
Exhibit · Outcomes vary by court
Where Drug Possession cases are dismissed or dropped, by jurisdiction
Across the 10 busiest courts71.2% in Fairfax County to 38.1% in Bristol — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henrico County | 1,911 | 52.1% | 47.7% | 3.0 months | $191 | 2.3 years |
| Virginia Beach | 1,513 | 48.3% | 51.3% | 3.3 months | $216 | 1.6 years |
| Chesterfield County | 1,490 | 47.9% | 52.1% | 4.6 months | $255 | 1.9 years |
| Prince William County | 1,453 | 41.6% | 58.0% | 4.9 months | $315 | 9.8 months |
| Fairfax County | 1,292 | 71.2% | 28.5% | 5.5 months | $173 | 3.2 months |
| Chesapeake | 1,079 | 64.5% | 35.4% | 3.5 months | $241 | 1.7 years |
| Newport News | 993 | 62.9% | 36.5% | 4.6 months | $144 | 1.7 years |
| Montgomery County | 815 | 48.1% | 50.6% | 4.1 months | $251 | 1.8 years |
| Rockingham County | 648 | 40.5% | 59.2% | 3.5 months | $188 | 1.6 years |
| Bristol | 592 | 38.1% | 61.9% | 3.1 months | $396 | 2.5 years |
| Tazewell County | 587 | 63.0% | 36.3% | 5.3 months | $150 | 1.5 years |
| Lynchburg | 580 | 37.5% | 61.4% | 4.8 months | $112 | 1.3 years |
| Stafford County | 554 | 49.3% | 50.7% | 3.7 months | $229 | 2.0 years |
| Roanoke City | 498 | 35.3% | 64.7% | 1.5 months | $103 | 1.1 years |
| Franklin County | 480 | 44.4% | 55.3% | 3.2 months | $189 | 1.9 years |
| Hanover County | 477 | 43.6% | 54.2% | 3.8 months | $165 | 2.0 years |
| Hampton | 461 | 30.7% | 68.0% | 3.8 months | $156 | 1.3 years |
| Richmond City | 450 | 51.3% | 48.4% | 4.4 months | $25 | 2.5 years |
| Warren County | 434 | 50.3% | 49.7% | 4.1 months | $129 | 1.9 years |
| Spotsylvania County | 420 | 56.3% | 41.2% | 3.4 months | $50 | 1.5 years |
| Fredericksburg | 400 | 37.0% | 61.4% | 3.2 months | $300 | 2.1 years |
| Roanoke County | 400 | 54.8% | 43.8% | 3.0 months | $134 | 1.3 years |
| Wythe County | 386 | 39.8% | 59.2% | 5.2 months | $432 | 3.2 years |
| Augusta County | 380 | 53.5% | 46.5% | 3.7 months | $244 | 1.6 years |
| Smyth County | 354 | 23.2% | 76.3% | 4.7 months | $647 | 3.1 years |
| Pulaski County | 354 | 49.2% | 50.8% | 3.8 months | $241 | 1.8 years |
| Washington County | 351 | 50.2% | 49.8% | 3.6 months | $365 | 2.8 years |
| Norfolk | 349 | 23.6% | 75.6% | 2.4 months | $172 | 1.2 years |
| Frederick County | 325 | 43.6% | 56.4% | 3.1 months | $116 | 1.8 years |
| Culpeper County | 310 | 49.1% | 50.9% | 3.4 months | $838 | 2.9 years |
| Arlington County | 295 | 68.7% | 30.9% | 2.8 months | $205 | 5.2 months |
| Loudoun County | 295 | 60.3% | 39.7% | 3.5 months | $168 | 10.4 months |
| Page County | 291 | 56.9% | 42.5% | 3.1 months | $100 | 1.9 years |
| Portsmouth | 261 | 44.3% | 55.7% | 3.2 months | $100 | 1.3 years |
| Bedford County | 255 | 47.5% | 51.6% | 3.4 months | $181 | 1.4 years |
| Henry County | 233 | 43.7% | 55.7% | 4.5 months | $193 | 2.2 years |
| Carroll County | 227 | 38.8% | 61.2% | 4.4 months | $344 | 2.6 years |
| Halifax County | 212 | 45.0% | 55.0% | 5.0 months | $260 | 5.3 years |
| Danville | 212 | 40.5% | 59.5% | 3.7 months | $209 | 2.7 years |
| Wise County | 208 | 39.1% | 60.1% | 5.5 months | $337 | 3.3 years |
| Winchester | 200 | 50.3% | 47.9% | 2.8 months | $89 | 1.2 years |
| Prince George County | 200 | 64.6% | 33.5% | 5.0 months | $250 | 2.9 years |
| Botetourt County | 192 | 33.9% | 65.4% | 3.4 months | — | 2.1 years |
| Suffolk | 188 | 68.2% | 31.8% | 4.3 months | $100 | 1.2 years |
| Lee County | 188 | 55.3% | 44.1% | 4.0 months | $590 | 2.7 years |
| York County | 178 | 62.9% | 35.7% | 3.7 months | — | 1.6 years |
| Staunton | 177 | 35.9% | 64.1% | 3.5 months | — | 1.5 years |
| Shenandoah County | 176 | 45.5% | 54.5% | 3.7 months | $140 | 1.8 years |
| Scott County | 174 | 27.4% | 72.6% | 4.8 months | $569 | 2.0 years |
| Petersburg | 172 | 49.8% | 50.2% | 4.3 months | $67 | 3.8 years |
| Salem | 166 | 44.0% | 56.0% | 2.0 months | — | 10.5 months |
| Campbell County | 162 | 56.3% | 43.7% | 5.0 months | $183 | 2.6 years |
| Martinsville | 162 | 61.8% | 38.2% | 4.4 months | $159 | 5.5 years |
| Waynesboro | 161 | 35.3% | 64.7% | 2.6 months | — | 2.3 years |
| Fauquier County | 158 | 41.8% | 57.3% | 4.3 months | $192 | 1.1 years |
| Amherst County | 151 | 48.8% | 47.1% | 4.0 months | $227 | 2.3 years |
| Rockbridge County | 146 | 58.4% | 41.6% | 3.8 months | $72 | 3.8 years |
| Buchanan County | 145 | 63.5% | 36.5% | 3.7 months | $340 | 2.3 years |
| Gloucester County | 145 | 38.4% | 60.8% | 2.5 months | — | 2.9 years |
| Dickenson County | 142 | 54.0% | 46.0% | 4.5 months | $100 | 1.8 years |
| Alleghany County | 142 | 59.5% | 40.5% | 2.5 months | $25 | 3.4 years |
| Russell County | 141 | 56.3% | 43.7% | 4.1 months | $250 | 4.0 years |
| Williamsburg | 130 | 62.5% | 37.5% | 3.5 months | $100 | 2.8 years |
| Hopewell | 129 | 57.3% | 42.7% | 4.7 months | — | 3.5 years |
| Colonial Heights | 126 | 58.4% | 41.6% | 4.7 months | — | 3.4 years |
| New Kent County | 120 | 69.2% | 30.8% | 4.0 months | $412 | 4.1 years |
| Accomack County | 115 | 60.2% | 36.4% | 3.7 months | $1,000 | 3.6 years |
| Isle of Wight County | 104 | 60.8% | 39.2% | 4.2 months | $176 | 1.5 years |
| Louisa County | 104 | 58.8% | 41.2% | 4.1 months | — | 2.1 years |
| Bland County | 101 | 56.4% | 43.6% | 5.0 months | $175 | 1.4 years |
| Caroline County | 98 | 53.4% | 46.6% | 3.6 months | — | 2.7 years |
| Mecklenburg County | 94 | 70.8% | 29.2% | 5.3 months | $90 | 4.0 years |
| Albemarle County | 91 | 63.4% | 36.6% | 3.2 months | $100 | 3.2 months |
| King George County | 91 | 52.8% | 45.5% | 3.4 months | $149 | 1.5 years |
| Grayson County | 83 | 7.4% | 64.8% | 5.2 months | — | 4.7 years |
| Alexandria | 81 | 62.7% | 37.3% | 3.9 months | $60 | 5.7 months |
| Pittsylvania County | 81 | 13.7% | 84.3% | 6.6 months | — | 4.0 years |
| Nelson County | 80 | 47.5% | 50.3% | 4.7 months | $150 | 2.0 years |
| Buckingham County | 79 | 65.0% | 35.0% | 4.6 months | — | 9.2 years |
| Radford | 78 | 21.4% | 78.6% | 8.2 months | $152 | 8.0 years |
| Nottoway County | 75 | 58.1% | 32.5% | 5.4 months | — | 5.3 years |
| Floyd County | 72 | 69.1% | 28.5% | 6.4 months | — | 3.4 years |
| Goochland County | 70 | 76.1% | 23.9% | 4.9 months | $1,000 | 3.3 years |
| Patrick County | 67 | 19.6% | 77.2% | 4.5 months | $100 | 2.7 years |
| Clarke County | 67 | 78.7% | 21.3% | 2.1 months | $192 | 1.3 years |
| Southampton County | 64 | 51.7% | 48.3% | 2.4 months | $250 | 2.3 years |
| Prince Edward County | 62 | 9.4% | 53.5% | 4.0 months | — | 6.0 years |
| Giles County | 60 | 17.9% | 82.1% | 8.1 months | — | 4.3 years |
| Galax | 58 | 52.9% | 47.1% | 3.6 months | $125 | 9.7 months |
| Orange County | 58 | 27.7% | 72.3% | 3.6 months | — | 2.4 years |
| Fluvanna County | 54 | 54.9% | 45.1% | 3.6 months | — | 3.8 years |
| Dinwiddie County | 53 | 39.8% | 60.2% | 3.4 months | $25 | 6.1 years |
| Franklin City | 49 | 83.3% | 16.7% | 4.1 months | — | 6.0 months |
| Appomattox County | 48 | 11.8% | 85.3% | 5.1 months | — | 4.4 years |
| Powhatan County | 47 | 61.0% | 39.0% | 4.2 months | — | 2.8 years |
| Charlottesville | 45 | 53.8% | 46.2% | 7.0 months | — | 8.1 months |
| Greene County | 33 | 31.6% | 68.4% | 5.5 months | $250 | 3.0 years |
| Charlotte County | 31 | 38.1% | 61.9% | 6.8 months | — | 3.6 years |
| Sussex County | 27 | 53.8% | 46.2% | 4.1 months | $133 | 1.0 years |
| Greensville County | 26 | 27.8% | 72.2% | 2.8 months | $562 | 8.9 years |
| Northampton County | 21 | 33.3% | 66.7% | 3.8 months | $144 | — |
Source: Virginia public court records, 2025 — 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, 2025. 29,363 cases analyzed across 101 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 Possession dismissal rates range from 7% to 83% 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