Trespassing in Fairfax County

Trespassing cases in Fairfax County are dismissed at a significantly higher rate than across Virginia. The 68.3 percent dismissal rate in Fairfax County runs 15.7 percentage points above the statewide average of 52.6 percent, suggesting prosecutors or judges in this jurisdiction apply a stricter standard to trespassing charges or that cases lack sufficient evidence more often than elsewhere in the state. The conviction rate of 30.7 percent reflects this pattern, with acquittals at just 1 percent across 3,562 cases.

When trespassing charges do proceed, they resolve relatively quickly. The median time from charging to disposition is 101 days, with half of cases finishing between 54 and 200 days. Only a small fraction of defendants—0.2 percent—see their charges reduced to lesser offenses like disorderly conduct or intoxication in public. Among those convicted, the median sentence is 30 days, though average sentences reach 72 days, indicating some cases result in longer jail terms. Fines average around $190.