As Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County, I will transform the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office into an efficient, effective, modern enterprise that will help ensure the safety and peace of mind of the residents of Fairfax County.  My plan to do so includes the following:

·      Victim’s Rights - I will work closely with the Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Victim Witness Staff, Judges of the Bench, and the Defense Bar to establish specific and just processes for handling criminal cases to assure that all victims of crime are treated with respect and have their rights vindicated. Further, I will work closely with Victim’s Rights Advocates to make sure that all victims understand the process and feel that justice was done in their case.

·      Preparation for Trial - I will make certain that all misdemeanor and felony cases are reviewed by a Deputy or Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney well before the trial or preliminary hearing date in order to assure that the case is prepared for trial and that the charges are appropriate.

·      Modern Prosecutorial Techniques - I will follow vertical prosecution techniques, training my staff as specialists in specific types of crimes so that each type of case is handled by attorneys who understand the intricacies of those crimes.  Deputies and Senior Assistants who are so specialized will work with junior attorneys to review case files and will work with the corresponding divisions within the Police Department and Sheriff’s Office to take cases from arrest through sentencing. 

·      Appropriate Staffing - Under the current administration, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office is drastically understaffed as illustrated in the attached graphs. I will hire enough qualified Deputies and Assistants to be able to prosecute all levels of crime, giving each case the necessary attention. Also, I will hire attorneys who wish to be career prosecutors and who will use the training and experience that they gain to prosecute cases on behalf of the Commonwealth and give them incentives to make sure they remain a part of my team. I will also emphasize training and hire experienced attorneys in order to make sure that the Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is among the best qualified in the Commonwealth.

·      Partners in Prosecution - I will foster partnership and trust with the Police Department, the Sheriff’s Office, and all other Law Enforcement Agencies, working together to make sure that the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is accessible to them so that we can strengthen the entire process from investigation to incarceration. 

·      Professional Prosecution - I will establish cordial and professional relationships between the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Judges of the Bench, and the Defense Bar to facilitate the ends of justice with fairness and efficiency.  Every phone call to the office will be returned within 24 hours, as appropriate, and all members of the public will be able to talk directly to a prosecutor when they contact the office in need of assistance.