Fraud / Forgery in Hanover County

Fraud and forgery cases in Hanover County are dismissed at a slightly higher rate than Virginia's statewide average, with 60.9 percent of the 304 cases resulting in dismissal compared to 59.8 percent statewide. This one-percentage-point difference suggests Hanover handles these cases similarly to the state overall, though nearly 4 in 10 defendants are convicted. No defendants were acquitted at trial in this dataset, indicating that most fraud and forgery cases in this jurisdiction either end in dismissal or guilty plea rather than proceeding to trial verdict.

When cases do move toward conviction, charge reductions occur in fewer than 6 percent of cases, with most reductions downgraded to lesser fraud offenses involving smaller dollar amounts or false pretenses charges. Defendants who are convicted face a median sentence of about 18 months, though average sentences reach over three years, suggesting some cases involve substantially longer terms. Cases resolve relatively quickly in Hanover County, with a median disposition time of 105 days and three-quarters of cases concluding within six months.