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

Penalties Under § 18.2-119

Section 18.2-119 addresses trespassing on posted or prohibited property in Virginia after being forbidden to do so. A first offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A subsequent offense within 2 years on the same property is a Class 6 felony.

According to 12,019 public court records from 2025, § 18.2-119 cases across 125 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 52.7% and an average conviction rate of 43.0%.

Court Outcomes Across Virginia

Across 125 Virginia jurisdictions (2025):

12,019
Total Cases
52.7%
Avg Dismissal Rate
43.0%
Avg Conviction Rate

Courts with the most cases related to this statute.

Jurisdiction Cases Dismissal Rate Conviction Rate Median Duration
Fairfax County 1,369 68.2% 31.8% 3.0 months
Norfolk 782 62.2% 37.8% 2.4 months
Prince William County 593 55.0% 45.0% 3.4 months
Newport News 538 64.0% 36.0% 3.4 months
Virginia Beach 478 46.5% 53.5% 2.4 months
Richmond City 447 62.6% 37.4% 3.1 months
Henrico County 414 46.4% 53.6% 3.0 months
Portsmouth 407 75.0% 25.0% 2.3 months
Roanoke City 406 32.2% 67.8% 1.2 months
Hampton 341 52.9% 47.1% 2.1 months
Chesterfield County 316 59.8% 40.2% 3.4 months
Arlington County 316 75.5% 24.5% 2.5 months
Lynchburg 260 44.3% 55.7% 3.3 months
Rockingham County 238 25.7% 74.3% 3.2 months
Danville 195 39.6% 60.4% 2.8 months

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

Based on 12,019 cases from 2025, charges under § 18.2-119 have an average dismissal rate of 52.7% and a conviction rate of 43.0% across 125 Virginia jurisdictions. Outcomes vary by court — view all jurisdictions for detailed data.
12,019 cases under § 18.2-119 were filed across 125 Virginia jurisdictions in 2025. For information about the current text and penalties of this statute, consult the Code of Virginia.

Charged under this statute? An attorney can review what this means for your case — free, no obligation.