Obstruction of Justice in Virginia

According to 8,854 public court records from 2025, Obstruction cases across 82 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 56.8% and an average conviction rate of 39.7%.

Obstruction of justice involves interfering with or hindering law enforcement in the performance of their duties. This page examines what public court records reveal about how obstruction cases are resolved across Virginia.

Variation Across Virginia

Obstruction outcomes differ depending on which court hears the case. Our data shows variation in:

• Dismissal rates — the percentage of cases ending without a conviction
• Case durations — how long from filing to final resolution
• Conviction patterns — how often cases result in a finding of guilt

These differences may reflect local law enforcement charging practices, prosecutorial policies, and how courts handle cases where obstruction is one of multiple charges.

Understanding Obstruction Statistics

When reviewing our data, keep in mind:

• Obstruction charges are often filed as add-on charges during incidents involving other offenses
• Dismissal includes judicial dismissals and nolle prosequi
• Outcomes may be influenced by plea negotiations across multiple charges in the same incident
• These are aggregate statistics — individual outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case

Next Steps

For information about Virginia obstruction of justice laws, consult a licensed Virginia attorney or visit the Virginia Legislative Information System.

To explore how obstruction cases are resolved in your specific court, view our obstruction data by jurisdiction.