Weapons Offense in Virginia
23,793 cases across 99 jurisdictions · 2025
According to 23,793 public court records from 2025, Weapons Offense cases across 99 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 64.5% and an average conviction rate of 32.8%. Statewide, 5.8% of Weapons Offense charges are reduced to a lesser offense. The average fine is $274.
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 99 jurisdictions with available data. Data covers 2025 public court records. Last updated: May 2, 2026
Key takeaways
- Across 99 Virginia jurisdictions, Weapons Offense cases had an average dismissal rate of 64.5% and conviction rate of 32.8% in 2025 (23,793 cases).
- Dismissal rates ranged from 38.6% in Montgomery County to 97.7% in Lancaster County among jurisdictions with weapons offense data.
- Statewide, 5.8% of Weapons Offense charges were reduced to a lesser offense.
23,793
Total Cases
64.5%
Avg Dismissal Rate
▲ vs 40.5% all charges
32.8%
Avg Conviction Rate
▼ vs 58.1% all charges
$274
Avg Fine
1.6 years
Avg Sentence
5.8%
Charge Reduction Rate
Exhibit · Outcomes vary by court
Where Weapons Offense cases are dismissed or dropped, by jurisdiction
Across the 10 busiest courts76.7% in Newport News to 40.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond City | 2,116 | 73.9% | 23.1% | 4.1 months | $71 | 2.0 years |
| Newport News | 1,797 | 76.7% | 21.0% | 4.6 months | $339 | 1.3 years |
| Norfolk | 1,542 | 64.5% | 33.1% | 4.1 months | $215 | 1.4 years |
| Virginia Beach | 1,509 | 40.3% | 57.9% | 4.4 months | $218 | 1.3 years |
| Henrico County | 1,168 | 54.2% | 42.3% | 3.9 months | $578 | 1.8 years |
| Chesterfield County | 936 | 71.2% | 26.2% | 4.9 months | $242 | 1.4 years |
| Hampton | 798 | 62.9% | 32.6% | 2.8 months | $233 | 1.7 years |
| Chesapeake | 764 | 68.6% | 28.1% | 4.3 months | $379 | 1.5 years |
| Suffolk | 664 | 65.7% | 30.6% | 5.1 months | $256 | 2.2 years |
| Prince William County | 657 | 73.9% | 23.4% | 4.4 months | $375 | 1.5 years |
| Portsmouth | 612 | 82.2% | 16.3% | 3.4 months | $175 | 1.2 years |
| Fairfax County | 552 | 84.9% | 14.1% | 5.6 months | $390 | 4.1 months |
| Petersburg | 467 | 67.0% | 27.0% | 5.5 months | $280 | 1.7 years |
| Roanoke City | 466 | 60.1% | 37.6% | 2.2 months | $125 | 1.3 years |
| Danville | 363 | 66.6% | 23.4% | 3.2 months | $166 | 1.0 years |
| Lynchburg | 344 | 59.9% | 37.6% | 4.3 months | $312 | 9.5 months |
| Stafford County | 317 | 68.7% | 31.3% | 3.6 months | $218 | 1.4 years |
| Spotsylvania County | 293 | 62.7% | 35.6% | 4.8 months | $380 | 2.2 years |
| Hanover County | 280 | 59.0% | 36.6% | 3.6 months | $263 | 1.0 years |
| Arlington County | 218 | 79.0% | 21.0% | 4.6 months | $250 | 1.2 years |
| Roanoke County | 203 | 55.1% | 38.2% | 3.9 months | $50 | 1.2 years |
| Henry County | 202 | 56.2% | 41.4% | 3.3 months | $243 | 1.6 years |
| Montgomery County | 197 | 38.6% | 61.4% | 4.1 months | $199 | 1.3 years |
| Rockingham County | 190 | 60.2% | 39.8% | 3.5 months | $1,089 | 1.7 years |
| Hopewell | 185 | 55.1% | 44.9% | 5.3 months | $132 | 1.8 years |
| Fredericksburg | 183 | 62.1% | 33.6% | 4.1 months | $100 | 1.1 years |
| Augusta County | 182 | 68.1% | 31.9% | 3.5 months | $151 | 1.7 years |
| Bedford County | 181 | 78.2% | 21.8% | 2.8 months | $150 | 11.4 months |
| Loudoun County | 178 | 77.5% | 22.5% | 4.5 months | $290 | 8.6 months |
| Colonial Heights | 175 | 75.6% | 22.0% | 5.6 months | — | 1.5 years |
| Tazewell County | 166 | 64.6% | 35.4% | 5.0 months | $384 | 1.3 years |
| Prince George County | 164 | 72.4% | 27.6% | 5.1 months | $250 | 1.8 years |
| Pulaski County | 161 | 47.2% | 50.3% | 3.4 months | $62 | 2.2 years |
| Wise County | 159 | 65.5% | 32.4% | 4.5 months | $183 | 1.9 years |
| Martinsville | 159 | 65.8% | 34.2% | 5.1 months | $233 | 2.1 years |
| Campbell County | 155 | 48.8% | 46.7% | 3.9 months | $106 | 1.7 years |
| Halifax County | 152 | 54.5% | 41.3% | 5.0 months | $177 | 1.9 years |
| Franklin County | 150 | 53.5% | 41.9% | 3.1 months | $47 | 1.4 years |
| Alexandria | 146 | 52.5% | 44.2% | 4.5 months | — | 1.4 years |
| Frederick County | 145 | 40.6% | 59.4% | 4.2 months | $477 | 2.0 years |
| York County | 138 | 70.1% | 27.1% | 3.6 months | $290 | 1.6 years |
| Wythe County | 136 | 45.5% | 52.0% | 5.4 months | $500 | 1.8 years |
| Williamsburg | 135 | 55.3% | 43.4% | 4.3 months | $100 | 2.3 years |
| Botetourt County | 135 | 60.3% | 39.7% | 2.7 months | $250 | 1.7 years |
| Radford | 132 | 59.1% | 40.9% | 6.0 months | $545 | 3.7 years |
| Smyth County | 125 | 56.0% | 41.0% | 4.0 months | $295 | 2.1 years |
| Buckingham County | 123 | 64.7% | 35.3% | 5.2 months | $125 | 2.0 years |
| Washington County | 117 | 55.5% | 44.5% | 3.8 months | — | 1.6 years |
| Charlottesville | 113 | 65.5% | 33.1% | 3.5 months | — | 1.8 years |
| Albemarle County | 106 | 73.4% | 26.6% | 3.5 months | — | 1.6 years |
| Winchester | 106 | 47.5% | 52.5% | 4.2 months | $100 | 1.5 years |
| Amherst County | 100 | 72.6% | 22.3% | 4.6 months | $299 | 2.2 years |
| Prince Edward County | 99 | 47.2% | 49.9% | 3.8 months | $453 | 2.0 years |
| New Kent County | 95 | 72.5% | 25.8% | 4.1 months | $516 | 1.4 years |
| Southampton County | 95 | 64.5% | 34.0% | 4.3 months | $405 | 2.2 years |
| Mecklenburg County | 93 | 69.1% | 30.9% | 6.7 months | $50 | 2.9 years |
| Warren County | 93 | 52.4% | 45.3% | 3.7 months | $200 | 1.4 years |
| Accomack County | 93 | 56.6% | 39.1% | 4.3 months | — | 1.9 years |
| Buchanan County | 92 | 68.6% | 31.4% | 7.6 months | $100 | 2.7 years |
| Bristol | 91 | 54.6% | 45.4% | 4.1 months | $608 | 2.2 years |
| Caroline County | 88 | 45.5% | 49.7% | 4.7 months | — | 1.8 years |
| Isle of Wight County | 87 | 64.6% | 35.4% | 5.9 months | $250 | 1.9 years |
| Dinwiddie County | 86 | 46.6% | 51.9% | 4.0 months | $100 | 1.5 years |
| Staunton | 86 | 59.8% | 40.2% | 3.5 months | $250 | 2.1 years |
| Culpeper County | 85 | 55.3% | 43.2% | 3.2 months | $238 | 1.4 years |
| Russell County | 83 | 64.8% | 35.2% | 3.3 months | $100 | 1.6 years |
| Carroll County | 83 | 58.9% | 38.8% | 4.4 months | $250 | 2.1 years |
| Shenandoah County | 82 | 60.9% | 37.3% | 6.5 months | $250 | 1.5 years |
| Lee County | 79 | 57.9% | 34.1% | 3.2 months | $299 | 4.9 years |
| Nottoway County | 78 | 61.7% | 23.1% | 5.9 months | — | 1.8 years |
| Greensville County | 78 | 53.7% | 43.6% | 4.0 months | $500 | 1.9 years |
| Franklin City | 75 | 79.4% | 20.6% | 5.4 months | $58 | 4.1 months |
| Rockbridge County | 75 | 71.4% | 28.6% | 3.4 months | $75 | 1.2 years |
| Patrick County | 74 | 48.8% | 44.1% | 4.1 months | — | 2.0 years |
| Pittsylvania County | 67 | 55.1% | 30.5% | 3.9 months | $175 | 1.2 years |
| Scott County | 67 | 54.5% | 45.5% | 4.2 months | $282 | 1.5 years |
| Brunswick County | 67 | 65.6% | 25.7% | 5.2 months | $399 | 3.0 years |
| Alleghany County | 64 | 55.3% | 43.1% | 3.0 months | $50 | 2.1 years |
| Dickenson County | 61 | 52.8% | 47.2% | 4.4 months | $83 | 4.2 years |
| Waynesboro | 61 | 52.7% | 45.5% | 3.1 months | $50 | 1.9 years |
| Gloucester County | 58 | 64.5% | 32.3% | 3.2 months | $375 | 6.3 months |
| King William County | 55 | 81.9% | 14.8% | 3.9 months | $355 | 4.0 years |
| King George County | 54 | 60.4% | 39.6% | 4.9 months | — | 2.0 years |
| Appomattox County | 54 | 42.9% | 57.1% | 4.0 months | $100 | 1.8 years |
| Louisa County | 53 | 53.8% | 34.6% | 4.0 months | $50 | 4.0 months |
| Emporia | 52 | 56.5% | 39.1% | 3.8 months | $200 | 7.5 months |
| Lancaster County | 48 | 97.7% | 0.0% | 14 days | — | — |
| Page County | 41 | 88.0% | 12.0% | 4.4 months | — | 4.5 months |
| Lunenburg County | 41 | 75.8% | 19.1% | 4.5 months | $60 | 2.5 years |
| Salem | 37 | 41.2% | 58.8% | 3.4 months | — | 4.5 months |
| Sussex County | 36 | 90.0% | 10.0% | 3.4 months | — | 1.0 years |
| Orange County | 35 | 77.8% | 22.2% | 3.6 months | — | 7.8 months |
| Northampton County | 34 | 62.5% | 37.5% | 4.4 months | $175 | 4.6 months |
| Westmoreland County | 32 | 75.0% | 25.0% | 3.7 months | — | 5.3 months |
| Nelson County | 29 | 63.6% | 18.2% | 3.0 months | $100 | 1.0 months |
| Fauquier County | 28 | 88.9% | 11.1% | 3.5 months | — | 20 days |
| Cumberland County | 24 | 88.9% | 11.1% | 4.3 months | — | 1.0 years |
| Goochland County | 23 | 92.3% | 0.0% | 5.5 months | — | — |
| Northumberland County | 20 | 83.3% | 8.3% | 2.4 months | — | 1.0 years |
Source: Virginia public court records, 2025 — VirginiaCourtFile.com
Compare Weapons Offense to Related Charges
See how Weapons Offense outcomes compare side-by-side with related charges across Virginia.
Related Virginia Statutes
Virginia Code sections associated with Weapons Offense charges.
Case Dismissed?
If your Weapons Offense case was dismissed or dropped, you may be eligible to have it sealed from your record.
Data source: Virginia public court records, 2025. 23,793 cases analyzed across 99 jurisdictions. Last updated May 2, 2026. — VirginiaCourtFile.com
Common Questions
Statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Past outcomes do not predict future results.
Lancaster County has the highest dismissal rate for Weapons Offense at 97.7%. Use the comparison table above to see how all Virginia jurisdictions compare for dismissal rates, conviction rates, and case timelines.
A total of 23,793 Weapons Offense cases were filed across 99 Virginia jurisdictions in 2025, with an average dismissal rate of 64.5%. Click on any jurisdiction above to see detailed statistics for that court.
The average conviction rate for Weapons Offense across Virginia is 32.8%, 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
Weapons Offense dismissal rates range from 39% to 98% across Virginia. Your court matters. An attorney who handles Weapons Offense cases in your court can review your case — free.
Want data specific to your court and situation? Check your case