Home / Charges / § 18.2-460 — Obstruction of Justice

§ 18.2-460 — Obstruction of Justice

Court outcome data from 6,297 cases across 123 jurisdictions · 2025

Source. Virginia District + Circuit Court Information Systems, 2025 Methodology Report a correction Last refreshed May 2, 2026

This page provides statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. For the current text of this statute, consult the Code of Virginia. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Virginia attorney.

According to 6,297 public court records from 2025, § 18.2-460 cases across 123 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 53.9% and an average conviction rate of 42.6%.

About This Statute

Section 18.2-460 addresses obstructing justice or resisting law enforcement in Virginia. Obstruction without force or threat is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Obstruction involving force, threats, or an attempt to prevent a lawful arrest is a Class 5 felony. For the current statutory text, penalties, and legal elements, consult the Virginia Legislative Information System or a licensed Virginia attorney.

Court Outcome Statistics

Our analysis of cases categorized under this statute area across Virginia courts (2025) shows:

6,297
Total Cases
53.9%
Avg Dismissal Rate
42.6%
Avg Conviction Rate

Top Jurisdictions

Courts with the most cases related to this statute.

Jurisdiction Cases Dismissal Rate Conviction Rate Median Duration
Fairfax County 457 80.0% 20.0% 4.8 months
Virginia Beach 436 39.1% 60.9% 3.6 months
Prince William County 404 66.1% 33.9% 4.2 months
Norfolk 260 58.2% 41.8% 3.8 months
Stafford County 220 58.5% 41.5% 2.9 months
Newport News 196 68.3% 31.7% 3.8 months
Chesterfield County 181 60.0% 40.0% 3.8 months
Chesapeake 181 65.0% 35.0% 3.5 months
Lynchburg 162 39.4% 60.6% 3.1 months
Spotsylvania County 143 56.8% 43.2% 3.3 months
Henrico County 142 58.5% 41.5% 3.1 months
Fredericksburg 130 43.7% 56.3% 2.8 months
Roanoke City 118 43.6% 56.4% 1.2 months
Richmond City 113 80.9% 19.1% 2.6 months
Loudoun County 112 65.2% 34.8% 3.4 months

Source: Virginia public court records, 2025 — VirginiaCourtFile.com

Explore Full Data

Obstruction — All Jurisdictions
6,297 cases · 53.9% dismissed
Obstruction Guide
What the court data shows →

Common Questions

Based on 6,297 cases from 2025, charges under § 18.2-460 have an average dismissal rate of 53.9% and a conviction rate of 42.6% across 123 Virginia jurisdictions. Outcomes vary by court — view all jurisdictions for detailed data.
6,297 cases under § 18.2-460 were filed across 123 Virginia jurisdictions in 2025. For information about the current text and penalties of this statute, consult the Code of Virginia.

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