A Virginia prosecutor says her office will no longer be involved in prosecuting some misdemeanor cases.
Loudoun County Commonwealth Attorney Buta Biberaj wrote in a memo that her office is “inundated” and needs to focus more on felony and violent crimes, according to FOX 5.
In the memo sent by Biberaj to the judges on December 30, 2022, he says that hit and run (property damage), reckless driving (less than 90 mph), trespassing, public intoxication, and eluding are among the crimes that they will not be processed by your office.
The letter states that for these charges, his office could work with law enforcement if they decide to prosecute the crimes.
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Loudoun County Commonwealth Attorney Buta Biberaj at a press conference
(FOX 5)
According to the letter, the changes will take place after January 16.
READ THE NOTE BELOW. APPLICATION USERS: CLICK HERE.
At a press conference on Friday, Biberaj said the letter was published prematurely and was intended to create discussion among Loudoun County judges.
She said the letter doesn’t necessarily mean misdemeanors won’t be prosecuted and explained that the process for processing charges is changing.
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A police officer in Loudoun County, Virginia, looks at his phone in Sterling, Virginia, on November 22, 2020.
(Andrew Caballero-Reynold/AFP via Getty Images)
“We promised transparency, do you want to see what we are doing? Come see what we are doing. Do you have questions about what we are doing? Ask the questions. It is unfortunate that this letter dated December 30 was published prematurely. That it’s why we have the wow factor of why people say ‘oh my gosh, I didn’t know’. He didn’t know because it wasn’t his time to know. We invited our general district court judges to have a conversation. How can we do this, and better serve you and better serve our community, Biberaj said.
Biberaj said his office will discuss the changes with law enforcement partners and the defense bar.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.
(FoxNews)
Commonwealth Attorney General Jason Miyares responded by saying that prosecutors cannot select which laws are prosecuted.
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“Prosecutors can’t pick laws to enforce and laws to ignore – that’s not how our government works, and it sets a dangerous precedent. Far-left CAs who ignore crime create an environment that only fosters more. Virginians deserve better,” Miyares. saying.
In response, Biberaj said: “I am focused on ensuring a safe community and fighting for the victims. My decision allows us to dedicate all available resources to protect victims of crimes like murder, rape and domestic violence, not speeding tickets. “.
“In truth, @JasonMiyaresVA, you know from your brief time as a prosecutor in Va Beach, that throughout our great Commonwealth, officers are the primary presenters of evidence in low-level and traffic misdemeanors. That’s not fail to prosecute but prioritize prosecution… If you want to protect people stop playing divisive politics and misinformation you know the Commonwealth only gives prosecutors $$ to prosecute felonies. So if you really want to fight for the victims, fight for the prosecutors to get the $$$ to prosecute every wrong.”
