Home / Charges / § 18.2-96 — Petit Larceny

§ 18.2-96 — Petit Larceny

Court outcome data from 18,304 cases across 125 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 18,304 public court records from 2025, § 18.2-96 cases across 125 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 55.4% and an average conviction rate of 42.9%.

About This Statute

Section 18.2-96 addresses petit larceny in Virginia, which involves theft of goods valued under $1,000. Petit larceny is a Class 1 misdemeanor carrying up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. 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:

18,304
Total Cases
55.4%
Avg Dismissal Rate
42.9%
Avg Conviction Rate

Top Jurisdictions

Courts with the most cases related to this statute.

Jurisdiction Cases Dismissal Rate Conviction Rate Median Duration
Fairfax County 3,891 66.8% 33.2% 3.8 months
Henrico County 2,066 43.5% 56.5% 4.4 months
Chesterfield County 1,458 52.5% 47.5% 4.4 months
Prince William County 1,038 59.7% 40.3% 4.4 months
Virginia Beach 809 39.7% 60.3% 3.5 months
Norfolk 749 70.2% 29.8% 2.8 months
Arlington County 601 62.4% 37.6% 3.5 months
Richmond City 381 68.3% 31.7% 2.6 months
Colonial Heights 380 51.6% 48.4% 6.0 months
Chesapeake 368 51.5% 48.5% 2.9 months
Loudoun County 333 64.2% 35.8% 6.0 months
Roanoke City 317 57.3% 42.7% 1.5 months
Newport News 282 72.2% 27.8% 3.9 months
Lynchburg 259 41.7% 58.3% 3.1 months
Alexandria 257 66.8% 33.2% 3.4 months

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

Explore Full Data

Larceny / Theft — All Jurisdictions
18,304 cases · 55.4% dismissed
Larceny / Theft Guide
What the court data shows →

Common Questions

Based on 18,304 cases from 2025, charges under § 18.2-96 have an average dismissal rate of 55.4% and a conviction rate of 42.9% across 125 Virginia jurisdictions. Outcomes vary by court — view all jurisdictions for detailed data.
18,304 cases under § 18.2-96 were filed across 125 Virginia jurisdictions in 2025. For information about the current text and penalties of this statute, consult the Code of Virginia.

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