There is so much that needs to be fixed about our justice system.

What’s the point of having a judiciary system if you’re also going to have mandatory minimums?

Anonymous wrote:This guy is a piece of garbage what is wrong with him

https://www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/fairfax-county-commonwealths-attorney-announces-sentencing-reform/amp/

2019 was a banner year for Virginia progressives - a clean sweep across northern Virginia - school boards, board of supervisors, prosecutors etc.. We will see if there is a counter reaction in 2021 & 2023 or if this is the new northern Virginia. The thing that often happens is the people that are really active in the local party are the activists whose ideology & beliefs may not be representative of the typical Fairfax Democrat. Most people I know seem fairly moderate but liberal activism has definitely taken hold in Fairfax County government these past few years. What I think we need is a more effective, more moderate local Republican Party - but it is not clear whether they are up to the task - they have not been to date. That is what you see up in New England - while Democrats win the federal races in New England almost across the board, you will see Republicans represented in local and state government to provide a balance. Moderates getting involved in the Democratic party would also work but it is really difficult to beat out the activists in local party politics - they just have much more energy and enthusiasm behind their involvement.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure the prosecutor has much control over the conditions of release, if any, a court might say sponte impose. As for mandatory minimums, the prosecutor might control that by not charging certain offenses but beyond that it would again seem up to the court.

As for mandatory minimums doing harm in “certain communities,” that would be true if you mean the community of violent recidivist felons who fail to respond to corrections imposed for prior convictions.

You didn't read the article, and I'm not sure OP did either.

The prosecutor said Fairfax would stop using mandatory minimums in plea deals. He did also say he'd ask the legislature to abolish mandatory minimums, but that of course is up to the legislature. It is not up to the court, that is the "mandatory" part.

It's true that a judge can impose conditions of release without the prosecutor requesting them, but the prosecutor not asking for bail greatly reduces the likelihood of bail being one of those conditions. There are other conditions of release such as participation in drug treatment. Interestingly, studies done in other counties where cash bail is eliminated show that eliminating it has little or no impact on people actually showing up for court. Eliminating cash bail also reduces recidivism, as even a few days in jail pending trial can cause people to lose their jobs.

I’m not sure the prosecutor has much control over the conditions of release, if any, a court might say sponte impose. As for mandatory minimums, the prosecutor might control that by not charging certain offenses but beyond that it would again seem up to the court.

As for mandatory minimums doing harm in “certain communities,” that would be true if you mean the community of violent recidivist felons who fail to respond to corrections imposed for prior convictions.

Criminals are rejoicing

OP Watch this.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IS5mwymTIJU

Yep. Sounds good to me.

Bail is a messed up concept. Either you are a danger (no release) or you aren't (release pending trial). Otherwise we are imprisoning people for being poor. There are people who have been awaiting trial for years, no conviction but imprisoned nonetheless.

It was always wrong but especially during covid, when being in prison means a major chance of catching it.

How is he a piece of garbage?

Cash bail penalizes poor people for being poor

Mandatory minimums have a terrible effect on certain communities

We knew what we were doing when we elected these progressive commonwealth attorneys

Such great news, thanks for sharing!

No cash bail, no mandatory minimums? Sounds good to me.

On the bail side of things: if Fairfax has a robust and effective pretrial release supervision program, I don't see anything wrong with this. We are innocent until proven guilty.

I will say in practice in Baltimore City, though, it has led to judges holding people with no bail rather than let them go pending trial. So it could have the opposite effect than what's intended if Fairfax County doesn't have the right supervision structures in place. Baltimore City definitely does not. Contrast to Montgomery County, which has an incredible pretrial program. I assume Fairfax is closer to Montgomery County than Baltimore.....

This guy is a piece of garbage what is wrong with him

https://www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/fairfax-county-commonwealths-attorney-announces-sentencing-reform/amp/