Overview
- The Civil Rights Division notified Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano on Wednesday that it is investigating his office’s plea bargaining, charging decisions, and sentencing policy.
- Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon authorized a full probe to determine if U.S. citizens were disadvantaged while undocumented defendants got better deals.
- Investigators will proceed under Title VI, the Safe Streets Act, and 34 U.S.C. § 12601, which allow the Justice Department to act when federally funded agencies discriminate.
- The inquiry cites a 2020 office policy that told prosecutors to weigh immigration consequences in cases, according to the Justice Department’s letter.
- The department said it has reached no conclusions and invited tips through its civil rights portal as the review begins.