Home / Charges / § 18.2-388 — Public Intoxication

§ 18.2-388 — Public Intoxication

Court outcome data from 18,808 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 18,808 public court records from 2025, § 18.2-388 cases across 123 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 34.2% and an average conviction rate of 63.9%.

About This Statute

Section 18.2-388 addresses being intoxicated in public in Virginia. Public intoxication is a Class 4 misdemeanor, the lowest level criminal offense, carrying a fine of up to $250 with no jail time. 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:

18,808
Total Cases
34.2%
Avg Dismissal Rate
63.9%
Avg Conviction Rate

Top Jurisdictions

Courts with the most cases related to this statute.

Jurisdiction Cases Dismissal Rate Conviction Rate Median Duration
Fairfax County 1,819 40.5% 59.5% 2.4 months
Prince William County 1,303 32.2% 67.8% 2.1 months
Virginia Beach 1,061 22.5% 77.5% 1.8 months
Arlington County 902 45.7% 54.3% 1.5 months
Loudoun County 624 46.4% 53.6% 1.8 months
Rockingham County 574 48.8% 51.2% 1.8 months
Newport News 497 44.4% 55.6% 1.4 months
Roanoke City 496 40.0% 60.0% 1.3 months
Montgomery County 484 40.9% 59.1% 2.1 months
Lynchburg 444 20.0% 80.0% 1.5 months
Spotsylvania County 429 42.9% 57.1% 1.7 months
Chesterfield County 428 40.4% 59.6% 2.1 months
Stafford County 409 44.0% 56.0% 1.5 months
Henrico County 403 33.4% 66.6% 2.4 months
Norfolk 381 37.3% 62.7% 1.8 months

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

Explore Full Data

Public Intoxication — All Jurisdictions
18,808 cases · 34.2% dismissed
Public Intoxication Guide
What the court data shows →

Common Questions

Based on 18,808 cases from 2025, charges under § 18.2-388 have an average dismissal rate of 34.2% and a conviction rate of 63.9% across 123 Virginia jurisdictions. Outcomes vary by court — view all jurisdictions for detailed data.
18,808 cases under § 18.2-388 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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