Obstruction in Virginia
9,020 cases across 83 jurisdictions · 2025
Charge statistics were restated in July 2026 — cases are now grouped by the Virginia Code section charged. What changed and why
Of 9,020 obstruction cases filed in 2025 across 83 Virginia jurisdictions, 6,603 reached an outcome — an average dismissal rate of 57.9% and an average conviction rate of 38.7%. Statewide, 2.5% of Obstruction charges are reduced to a lesser offense. The average fine is $161.
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 83 jurisdictions with available data. Data covers 2025 public court records. Last updated: July 8, 2026
Key takeaways
- Across 83 Virginia jurisdictions, Obstruction cases had an average dismissal rate of 57.9% and conviction rate of 38.7% in 2025 (9,020 cases).
- Dismissal rates ranged from 21.7% in Rockbridge County to 80.0% in Lancaster County among jurisdictions with obstruction data.
- Statewide, 2.5% of Obstruction charges were reduced to a lesser offense.
Exhibit · Outcomes vary by court
Where Obstruction cases are dismissed or dropped, by jurisdiction
Across the 10 busiest courts79.3% in Fairfax County to 40.5% in Virginia Beach — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | 709 | 79.3% | 19.1% | 3.7 months | $190 | 2.6 months |
| Prince William County | 681 | 66.6% | 31.9% | 4.3 months | $147 | 4.6 months |
| Virginia Beach | 580 | 40.5% | 57.1% | 3.6 months | $319 | 7.2 months |
| Newport News | 372 | 70.0% | 23.1% | 3.9 months | $152 | 9.9 months |
| Norfolk | 354 | 55.3% | 38.2% | 3.3 months | $107 | 6.6 months |
| Chesterfield County | 325 | 66.5% | 30.7% | 3.8 months | $183 | 9.2 months |
| Arlington County | 299 | 76.5% | 21.9% | 3.2 months | $217 | 5.0 months |
| Henrico County | 299 | 53.3% | 45.9% | 3.2 months | $91 | 11.3 months |
| Loudoun County | 269 | 70.2% | 26.0% | 2.3 months | $94 | 4.3 months |
| Stafford County | 267 | 59.3% | 38.0% | 3.0 months | $133 | 6.2 months |
| Spotsylvania County | 247 | 57.1% | 41.6% | 3.3 months | $229 | 8.8 months |
| Chesapeake | 240 | 66.7% | 28.0% | 3.4 months | $25 | 6.0 months |
| Lynchburg | 215 | 39.1% | 46.3% | 3.7 months | $366 | 6.2 months |
| Richmond City | 165 | 76.8% | 19.7% | 2.5 months | $79 | 8.2 months |
| Hampton | 164 | 49.6% | 40.5% | 2.8 months | $171 | 1.0 years |
| Roanoke City | 162 | 47.1% | 51.6% | 1.2 months | $111 | 4.7 months |
| Portsmouth | 153 | 62.7% | 35.7% | 3.1 months | — | 7.8 months |
| Fredericksburg | 151 | 45.5% | 48.4% | 2.8 months | $117 | 6.8 months |
| Hanover County | 140 | 55.9% | 41.0% | 3.1 months | $260 | 7.6 months |
| Petersburg | 133 | 58.2% | 29.8% | 4.9 months | $106 | 10.3 months |
| Suffolk | 125 | 59.5% | 37.4% | 3.8 months | $217 | 9.2 months |
| Montgomery County | 121 | 34.0% | 64.7% | 3.0 months | $159 | 4.8 months |
| Fauquier County | 110 | 57.5% | 36.2% | 2.0 months | $50 | 4.7 months |
| Danville | 108 | 23.5% | 67.9% | 2.9 months | $239 | 6.6 months |
| Augusta County | 108 | 45.9% | 54.1% | 2.9 months | $75 | 9.3 months |
| Henry County | 99 | 37.1% | 54.4% | 2.9 months | $96 | 6.7 months |
| Tazewell County | 96 | 55.4% | 41.5% | 2.9 months | $61 | 4.6 months |
| Rockingham County | 93 | 42.7% | 50.7% | 3.1 months | $183 | 4.2 months |
| York County | 88 | 75.4% | 19.7% | 3.8 months | $64 | 3.9 months |
| Pulaski County | 82 | 45.3% | 54.7% | 2.9 months | $138 | 7.2 months |
| Alexandria | 79 | 65.7% | 34.3% | 3.4 months | $41 | 3.8 months |
| Roanoke County | 70 | 41.3% | 58.7% | 2.5 months | $150 | 4.0 months |
| Charlottesville | 67 | 55.2% | 43.1% | 2.2 months | $50 | 3.9 months |
| Frederick County | 64 | 55.1% | 44.9% | 3.7 months | $176 | 4.4 months |
| Williamsburg | 60 | 73.5% | 22.4% | 2.8 months | $50 | 7.1 months |
| Albemarle County | 59 | 69.6% | 30.4% | 3.1 months | — | 4.5 months |
| Washington County | 58 | 48.6% | 51.4% | 3.5 months | $171 | 8.2 months |
| Bristol | 55 | 44.1% | 55.9% | 2.5 months | $133 | 4.9 months |
| Culpeper County | 55 | 44.4% | 51.1% | 3.3 months | $464 | 8.1 months |
| Hopewell | 55 | 45.5% | 45.5% | 2.9 months | — | 10.6 months |
| Winchester | 51 | 55.3% | 44.7% | 3.0 months | — | 6.2 months |
| Colonial Heights | 49 | 75.7% | 18.9% | 3.5 months | $50 | 10.3 months |
| Halifax County | 49 | 25.8% | 67.7% | 2.8 months | $25 | 11.4 months |
| Wise County | 49 | 54.1% | 43.2% | 2.2 months | $260 | 5.9 months |
| Martinsville | 47 | 41.9% | 58.1% | 2.7 months | $160 | 1.0 years |
| Prince George County | 47 | 68.6% | 25.7% | 4.6 months | $30 | 7.9 months |
| Wythe County | 47 | 37.1% | 62.9% | 2.4 months | $126 | 8.0 months |
| Smyth County | 46 | 28.6% | 71.4% | 4.0 months | $148 | 5.5 months |
| Bedford County | 42 | 53.6% | 46.4% | 2.7 months | $225 | 5.2 months |
| Warren County | 41 | 34.6% | 61.5% | 2.3 months | $190 | 4.8 months |
| Radford | 40 | 29.2% | 70.8% | 2.8 months | $114 | 5.0 months |
| Staunton | 39 | 62.1% | 37.9% | 3.8 months | $30 | 3.9 months |
| Mecklenburg County | 38 | 57.1% | 42.9% | 2.8 months | — | 10.5 months |
| Accomack County | 37 | 61.5% | 34.6% | 3.1 months | $300 | 3.7 months |
| Rockbridge County | 37 | 21.7% | 78.3% | 3.6 months | $175 | 4.8 months |
| Westmoreland County | 35 | 50.0% | 46.2% | 3.3 months | $100 | 6.5 months |
| Caroline County | 34 | 52.9% | 47.1% | 2.6 months | $30 | 3.0 months |
| Carroll County | 34 | 44.8% | 51.7% | 1.8 months | $192 | 10.8 months |
| Franklin City | 34 | 38.9% | 61.1% | 4.9 months | $75 | 5.9 months |
| King George County | 34 | 65.2% | 34.8% | 3.3 months | $100 | 5.4 months |
| Lee County | 34 | 29.2% | 70.8% | 3.4 months | $233 | 2.6 months |
| Page County | 34 | 48.0% | 52.0% | 3.4 months | — | 6.8 months |
| Campbell County | 33 | 73.7% | 26.3% | 2.2 months | — | 1.4 months |
| Franklin County | 33 | 27.8% | 72.2% | 2.6 months | $100 | 3.8 months |
| Alleghany County | 31 | 40.0% | 60.0% | 2.3 months | $28 | 3.7 months |
| Salem | 31 | 47.4% | 52.6% | 2.1 months | — | 2.9 months |
| Shenandoah County | 31 | 45.0% | 50.0% | 6.2 months | $30 | 4.3 months |
| Sussex County | 30 | 42.1% | 57.9% | 3.5 months | $177 | 8.7 months |
| Botetourt County | 28 | 40.0% | 60.0% | 2.0 months | $25 | 8.2 months |
| Buchanan County | 27 | 50.0% | 50.0% | 3.0 months | $77 | 5.7 months |
| Scott County | 27 | 41.2% | 58.8% | 2.8 months | $217 | 9.7 months |
| Waynesboro | 27 | 52.6% | 47.4% | 1.9 months | $100 | 3.3 months |
| Amherst County | 26 | 52.4% | 38.1% | 3.3 months | $100 | 5.5 months |
| Gloucester County | 26 | 60.0% | 30.0% | 2.7 months | — | 6.9 months |
| Isle of Wight County | 25 | 60.0% | 40.0% | 3.5 months | $100 | 7.8 months |
| Dinwiddie County | 24 | 58.8% | 41.2% | 2.2 months | $100 | 10.4 months |
| Orange County | 22 | 31.2% | 62.5% | 1.9 months | $65 | 2.4 months |
| Prince Edward County | 22 | 62.5% | 25.0% | 3.1 months | — | 1.0 years |
| Lancaster County | 21 | 80.0% | 0.0% | 2.1 months | — | — |
| Louisa County | 21 | 75.0% | 25.0% | 2.4 months | — | 3.0 months |
| King William County | 20 | 78.6% | 21.4% | 2.5 months | $100 | 7.6 months |
| New Kent County | 20 | 75.0% | 18.8% | 5.3 months | — | 6.4 months |
| Nottoway County | 20 | 25.0% | 75.0% | 2.6 months | — | 9.3 months |
Source: Virginia public court records, 2025 — VirginiaCourtFile.com
Compare Obstruction to Related Charges
See how Obstruction outcomes compare side-by-side with related charges across Virginia.
Related Virginia Statutes
Virginia Code sections associated with Obstruction charges.
Case Dismissed?
If your Obstruction case was dismissed or dropped, you may be eligible to have it sealed from your record.
Data source: Virginia public court records, 2025. 9,020 cases analyzed across 83 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
Obstruction dismissal rates range from 22% to 80% across Virginia. Your court matters. An attorney who handles Obstruction cases in your court can review your case — free.
Want data specific to your court and situation? Check your case