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18.2-250 — Drug Possession

Court outcome data from 73,463 cases across 119 jurisdictions · 2023–2024

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 73,463 public court records from 2023–2024, cases related to 18.2-250 — Drug Possession across 119 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 48.1% and an average conviction rate of 51.4%.

About This Statute

Section 18.2-250 addresses unauthorized possession of controlled substances in Virginia. Simple possession of a Schedule I or II substance is a Class 5 felony, while Schedule III-VI possession is a misdemeanor. Virginia decriminalized simple marijuana possession in 2021. 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 (2023–2024) shows:

73,463
Total Cases
48.1%
Avg Dismissal Rate
51.4%
Avg Conviction Rate

Top Jurisdictions

Courts with the most cases related to this statute.

Jurisdiction Cases Dismissal Rate Conviction Rate Median Duration
Henrico County 4,802 43.5% 56.2% 3.7 months
Fairfax County 4,400 66.3% 33.5% 7.0 months
Prince William County 4,274 51.6% 48.3% 5.4 months
Chesterfield County 2,740 63.5% 36.1% 4.3 months
Stafford County 2,380 42.4% 57.2% 3.7 months
Montgomery County 2,365 29.3% 69.9% 4.6 months
Virginia Beach 2,347 70.5% 29.4% 4.2 months
Rockingham County 2,180 31.6% 68.2% 4.6 months
Newport News 2,155 57.3% 41.9% 5.1 months
Tazewell County 1,946 51.9% 48.0% 6.4 months
Chesapeake 1,746 83.6% 16.0% 3.8 months
Lynchburg 1,610 39.8% 58.3% 4.4 months
Arlington County 1,151 59.5% 39.9% 6.7 months
Warren County 1,127 43.2% 56.8% 3.7 months
Page County 1,088 27.5% 71.4% 4.3 months

Source: Virginia public court records, 2023–2024 — VirginiaCourtFile.com

Explore Full Data

Drug Possession — All Jurisdictions
73,463 cases · 48.1% dismissed
Drug Possession Guide
What the court data shows →

Common Questions

Based on 73,463 cases from 2023–2024, charges related to 18.2-250 — Drug Possession have an average dismissal rate of 48.1% and a conviction rate of 51.4% across 119 Virginia jurisdictions. Outcomes vary by court — view all jurisdictions for detailed data.
73,463 cases related to 18.2-250 — Drug Possession were filed across 119 Virginia jurisdictions in 2023–2024. For information about the current text and penalties of this statute, consult the Code of Virginia.

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