Failure to Appear in Virginia
34,162 cases across 115 jurisdictions · 2025
Charge statistics were restated in July 2026 — cases are now grouped by the Virginia Code section charged. What changed and why
Of 34,162 failure to appear cases filed in 2025 across 115 Virginia jurisdictions, 24,795 reached an outcome — an average dismissal rate of 58.8% and an average conviction rate of 35.5%. Statewide, 1.8% of Failure to Appear charges are reduced to a lesser offense. The average fine is $94.
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 115 jurisdictions with available data. Data covers 2025 public court records. Last updated: July 8, 2026
Key takeaways
- Across 115 Virginia jurisdictions, Failure to Appear cases had an average dismissal rate of 58.8% and conviction rate of 35.5% in 2025 (34,162 cases).
- Dismissal rates ranged from 17.2% in Pittsylvania County to 93.8% in Powhatan County among jurisdictions with failure to appear data.
- Statewide, 1.8% of Failure to Appear charges were reduced to a lesser offense.
34,162
Total Cases
58.8%
Avg Dismissal Rate
▲ vs 40.5% all charges
35.5%
Avg Conviction Rate
▼ vs 58.1% all charges
$94
Avg Fine
1.3 months
Avg Sentence
1.8%
Charge Reduction Rate
Exhibit · Outcomes vary by court
Where Failure to Appear cases are dismissed or dropped, by jurisdiction
Across the 10 busiest courts91.4% in Fairfax County to 43.1% in Lynchburg — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince William County | 2,476 | 74.2% | 24.6% | 3.8 months | $128 | 10 days |
| Fairfax County | 1,964 | 91.4% | 7.8% | 4.0 months | $166 | 1.3 months |
| Chesterfield County | 1,822 | 59.5% | 30.4% | 3.4 months | $82 | 25 days |
| Norfolk | 1,653 | 66.2% | 25.0% | 2.3 months | $77 | 1.9 months |
| Chesapeake | 1,317 | 67.6% | 25.8% | 4.1 months | $108 | 28 days |
| Newport News | 1,223 | 54.4% | 38.0% | 4.3 months | $111 | 1.5 months |
| Virginia Beach | 1,168 | 48.6% | 45.8% | 3.2 months | $74 | 1.3 months |
| Portsmouth | 909 | 85.3% | 14.0% | 3.1 months | $61 | 1.7 months |
| Hampton | 877 | 64.7% | 24.1% | 3.8 months | $84 | 1.8 months |
| Lynchburg | 852 | 43.1% | 47.4% | 3.1 months | $59 | 10 days |
| Alexandria | 703 | 58.8% | 40.8% | 4.0 months | $131 | 8 days |
| Rockingham County | 645 | 46.0% | 52.0% | 3.3 months | $65 | 16 days |
| Hanover County | 599 | 35.1% | 42.5% | 3.0 months | $69 | 3.7 months |
| Wise County | 557 | 78.5% | 21.5% | 3.0 months | $124 | 1.3 months |
| Roanoke City | 520 | 51.1% | 48.9% | 2.5 months | $62 | 24 days |
| Danville | 515 | 32.9% | 52.5% | 2.8 months | $107 | 1.4 months |
| Suffolk | 494 | 54.9% | 34.8% | 3.2 months | $61 | 1.1 months |
| Loudoun County | 472 | 80.5% | 16.2% | 3.0 months | $95 | 6 days |
| Stafford County | 466 | 79.1% | 18.9% | 2.8 months | $75 | 9 days |
| Roanoke County | 459 | 49.2% | 47.8% | 2.7 months | $59 | 1.5 months |
| Henrico County | 457 | 48.5% | 48.2% | 4.6 months | — | 3.4 months |
| Albemarle County | 451 | 55.4% | 40.1% | 2.2 months | $50 | 10 days |
| Bedford County | 428 | 48.5% | 48.5% | 2.3 months | $60 | 8 days |
| Augusta County | 408 | 45.9% | 53.5% | 2.4 months | $67 | 11 days |
| Arlington County | 390 | 76.3% | 23.2% | 3.7 months | $310 | 1.4 months |
| Montgomery County | 345 | 61.4% | 35.7% | 2.6 months | $72 | 9 days |
| Williamsburg | 323 | 38.3% | 51.1% | 2.7 months | $97 | 9 days |
| Frederick County | 315 | 49.3% | 50.2% | 3.0 months | $38 | 2.8 months |
| Colonial Heights | 314 | 39.0% | 43.0% | 3.5 months | $90 | 12 days |
| Fredericksburg | 312 | 45.6% | 44.8% | 2.2 months | $36 | 6 days |
| Bristol | 308 | 32.4% | 35.3% | 3.4 months | $51 | 10 days |
| Culpeper County | 306 | 33.8% | 58.3% | 1.9 months | $85 | 1.2 months |
| Washington County | 293 | 44.4% | 32.3% | 3.3 months | $57 | 1.7 months |
| Smyth County | 286 | 53.9% | 34.6% | 2.8 months | $81 | 14 days |
| Henry County | 275 | 43.2% | 47.8% | 2.2 months | $88 | 6.1 months |
| Winchester | 272 | 47.4% | 51.5% | 3.0 months | $63 | 9 days |
| Halifax County | 272 | 59.3% | 38.6% | 1.6 months | $58 | 10 days |
| Richmond City | 271 | 55.4% | 31.9% | 4.1 months | $42 | 2.5 months |
| Wythe County | 266 | 70.2% | 28.8% | 2.9 months | $133 | 10 days |
| Staunton | 261 | 50.7% | 48.4% | 3.3 months | $300 | 9 days |
| Warren County | 255 | 76.9% | 22.7% | 3.0 months | $73 | 17 days |
| Spotsylvania County | 242 | 57.4% | 35.6% | 2.5 months | $84 | 2.0 months |
| Prince George County | 242 | 59.3% | 35.5% | 3.4 months | $106 | 3.5 months |
| Charlottesville | 241 | 62.0% | 36.2% | 1.9 months | — | 8 days |
| York County | 238 | 71.1% | 28.3% | 3.1 months | $95 | 9 days |
| Botetourt County | 236 | 41.8% | 57.2% | 2.6 months | $94 | 1.7 months |
| Waynesboro | 231 | 39.6% | 58.2% | 2.9 months | $78 | 19 days |
| Hopewell | 220 | 61.8% | 35.8% | 3.8 months | $71 | 19 days |
| Mecklenburg County | 218 | 80.7% | 19.3% | 1.9 months | $100 | 22 days |
| Gloucester County | 207 | 47.6% | 45.4% | 3.8 months | $167 | 5.0 months |
| Amherst County | 195 | 44.4% | 44.9% | 2.9 months | $53 | 10 days |
| Caroline County | 192 | 63.5% | 29.3% | 3.3 months | $55 | 2.5 months |
| Campbell County | 191 | 26.9% | 65.0% | 3.0 months | $52 | 10 days |
| Sussex County | 181 | 51.3% | 46.1% | 3.7 months | $105 | 1.5 months |
| Brunswick County | 180 | 41.6% | 54.0% | 2.9 months | $91 | 23 days |
| Isle of Wight County | 162 | 44.3% | 49.6% | 3.4 months | $46 | 8 days |
| Alleghany County | 161 | 42.5% | 56.7% | 2.2 months | — | 1.3 months |
| Louisa County | 160 | 80.4% | 19.6% | 2.7 months | $50 | 1.0 months |
| Southampton County | 153 | 39.3% | 43.3% | 3.1 months | $65 | 9 days |
| Dinwiddie County | 151 | 36.1% | 63.9% | 3.7 months | $95 | 10 days |
| Shenandoah County | 141 | 74.4% | 25.6% | 3.2 months | $50 | 16 days |
| Prince Edward County | 141 | 59.1% | 36.6% | 2.9 months | $62 | 10 days |
| Pulaski County | 137 | 50.0% | 49.0% | 1.7 months | $33 | 9 days |
| Salem | 137 | 32.2% | 67.8% | 2.2 months | $33 | 1.0 months |
| Rockbridge County | 130 | 43.1% | 52.0% | 2.2 months | $72 | 1.2 months |
| Tazewell County | 125 | 82.6% | 17.4% | 2.3 months | $89 | 10 days |
| Page County | 122 | 50.1% | 49.9% | 2.8 months | $62 | 9 days |
| Fauquier County | 120 | 67.8% | 31.1% | 2.7 months | $114 | 29 days |
| Carroll County | 116 | 69.3% | 27.9% | 2.9 months | $38 | 3.5 months |
| Lee County | 115 | 73.5% | 26.5% | 2.1 months | $154 | 7.5 months |
| Greensville County | 112 | 56.3% | 37.1% | 2.7 months | $94 | 1.0 years |
| Petersburg | 110 | 68.9% | 23.0% | 4.0 months | $75 | 19 days |
| Buchanan County | 106 | 65.5% | 30.4% | 3.7 months | $95 | 4.8 months |
| Franklin County | 104 | 23.3% | 76.7% | 1.9 months | $121 | 7 days |
| Franklin City | 103 | 25.3% | 57.3% | 3.2 months | $45 | 8 days |
| Martinsville | 99 | 44.3% | 54.5% | 2.2 months | $85 | 4.1 months |
| Buckingham County | 97 | 58.9% | 35.7% | 2.6 months | $67 | 4.5 months |
| Nottoway County | 96 | 30.9% | 52.0% | 2.6 months | $50 | 1.4 months |
| Patrick County | 93 | 60.6% | 36.7% | 1.9 months | $40 | 8 days |
| Emporia | 79 | 46.3% | 50.0% | 2.5 months | $91 | 1.8 months |
| Dickenson County | 74 | 67.3% | 30.8% | 1.9 months | — | 9 days |
| King George County | 74 | 46.0% | 34.0% | 4.1 months | $50 | 7 days |
| Giles County | 71 | 78.6% | 21.4% | 2.1 months | $38 | 6 days |
| Pittsylvania County | 71 | 17.2% | 55.2% | 2.4 months | $166 | 10 days |
| Fairfax City | 70 | 58.5% | 37.7% | 4.0 months | $147 | 10 days |
| Accomack County | 69 | 45.5% | 43.2% | 1.7 months | $43 | 6 days |
| Russell County | 64 | 51.7% | 44.6% | 3.1 months | $75 | 2.5 months |
| Cumberland County | 62 | 67.9% | 30.3% | 3.2 months | $108 | 1.4 years |
| Amelia County | 61 | 53.5% | 37.2% | 2.3 months | $70 | 10 days |
| Grayson County | 60 | 57.9% | 42.1% | 2.6 months | $67 | 9 days |
| Goochland County | 57 | 76.7% | 23.3% | 2.9 months | $50 | 28 days |
| Lancaster County | 56 | 69.0% | 28.6% | 3.0 months | $58 | 6 days |
| Galax | 53 | 45.5% | 50.0% | 2.1 months | $89 | 9 days |
| Radford | 50 | 58.1% | 37.2% | 4.1 months | $50 | 10 days |
| Fluvanna County | 48 | 55.9% | 35.3% | 4.8 months | $25 | 10 days |
| Scott County | 46 | 72.4% | 27.6% | 3.6 months | $250 | 10 days |
| Essex County | 44 | 64.5% | 35.5% | 2.8 months | $25 | 9 days |
| New Kent County | 43 | 55.2% | 41.4% | 3.5 months | $415 | 1.5 years |
| Clarke County | 41 | 88.9% | 11.1% | 2.2 months | — | 10 days |
| Madison County | 41 | 37.1% | 57.1% | 2.7 months | $36 | 22 days |
| Orange County | 41 | 77.1% | 17.1% | 3.3 months | $50 | 2.8 months |
| Westmoreland County | 36 | 69.6% | 26.1% | 1.6 months | $50 | 5 days |
| Northampton County | 33 | 55.6% | 38.9% | 2.5 months | $150 | 23 days |
| Northumberland County | 32 | 50.0% | 34.6% | 2.7 months | $50 | 6 days |
| Richmond County | 31 | 54.5% | 45.5% | 2.6 months | $50 | 16 days |
| Appomattox County | 30 | 50.0% | 50.0% | 2.2 months | $175 | 10 days |
| Buena Vista | 30 | 61.9% | 38.1% | 4.0 months | $100 | 2.0 months |
| King William County | 29 | 79.2% | 20.8% | 1.6 months | — | 10 days |
| Lunenburg County | 28 | 50.0% | 42.3% | 2.1 months | $50 | 10 days |
| Charlotte County | 24 | 65.2% | 34.8% | 2.1 months | $83 | 10 days |
| Greene County | 24 | 47.8% | 52.2% | 3.2 months | — | 1.3 months |
| Nelson County | 23 | 52.6% | 42.1% | 3.7 months | $88 | 10 days |
| Middlesex County | 22 | 50.0% | 38.9% | 2.0 months | $250 | 10 days |
| Floyd County | 21 | 62.5% | 31.2% | 3.4 months | — | 1.5 years |
| Powhatan County | 20 | 93.8% | 6.2% | 5.1 months | — | 5.0 years |
Source: Virginia public court records, 2025 — VirginiaCourtFile.com
Related Virginia Statutes
Virginia Code sections associated with Failure to Appear charges.
Case Dismissed?
If your Failure to Appear case was dismissed or dropped, you may be eligible to have it sealed from your record.
Data source: Virginia public court records, 2025. 34,162 cases analyzed across 115 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.
Powhatan County has the highest dismissal rate for Failure to Appear at 93.8%. Use the comparison table above to see how all Virginia jurisdictions compare for dismissal rates, conviction rates, and case timelines.
A total of 34,162 Failure to Appear cases were filed across 115 Virginia jurisdictions in 2025, with an average dismissal rate of 58.8%. Click on any jurisdiction above to see detailed statistics for that court.
The average conviction rate for Failure to Appear across Virginia is 35.5%, based on 2025 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
Failure to Appear dismissal rates range from 17% to 94% across Virginia. Your court matters. An attorney who handles Failure to Appear cases in your court can review your case — free.
Want data specific to your court and situation? Check your case