Virginia prosecutor formally ends cash bail, joining growing movement
Justin Jouvenal, The Washington Post
Dec. 21, 2020
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Fairfax County Commonwealth s Attorney Steve Descano, a Democrat, speaks at a news conference Oct. 15, 2020.Washington Post photo by Tom Jackman
Fairfax County, Va. s top prosecutor formally announced Monday that his office would no longer seek cash bail, saying it exacerbates inequalities between the rich and poor in the criminal justice system.
The announcement codifies what had been the general practice of Commonwealth s Attorney Steve Descano since he took office in January after running on a platform of bringing major changes in Virginia s largest county.
Fairfax County, Virginia, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said that his office will stop seeking cash bail, explaining he believes it creates a two-tiered system of justice.
“Cash-bail is the amount of money a court forces someone who’s already deemed to not be dangerous to pay before they can leave jail and go home as they await trial,” Descano said Monday in an announcement.
Descano said it creates two systems of justice, one for the rich and one for everybody else, and he said that Black and brown Virginians “bear the brunt of that injustice.”
Since taking office in January 2020, he said he has instructed his prosecutors not to seek cash bail. But sometimes, Descano said a judge will impose one.
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Judge in Virginia rules Black defendant can t get a fair trial in courtroom largely featuring portraits of White judges
Justin Jouvenal, The Washington Post
Dec. 22, 2020
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1of3In 2013, then-defense attorney David Bernhard questions a witness during a murder trial. A portrait of a judge is seen behind him.Washington Post photo by Nikki Kahn.Show MoreShow Less
2of3During a 2013 trial, defense attorney Alberto Salvado, left, and Casey Lingan, chief deputy of the Commonwealth s Attorney Fairfax County Judicial Center, confer during a break in a murder trial.Washington Post photo by Nikki Kahn.Show MoreShow Less
Fairfax County prosecutor formally ends cash bail, joining a growing movement Justin Jouvenal Fairfax County’s top prosecutor formally announced Monday that his office would no longer seek cash bail, saying it exacerbates inequalities between the rich and poor in the criminal justice system.
Popular Searches The announcement codifies what had been the general practice of Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve T. Descano (D) since he took office in January after running on a platform of bringing major changes in Virginia’s largest county. Descano joins a growing number of prosecutors and judges in Virginia and across the nation who have stopped asking defendants to put up money to get out of jail and ensure they continue to show up for court hearings.
Judge rules defendant can t get fair trial in courtroom adorned with portraits of White judges washingtonpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtonpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.