Thread by @SteveDescano

When I was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for Fairfax County, far-right ideologues came after me immediately. They had tantrums on @FoxNews every week, crying that crime would skyrocket.

It's time to make this clear: safety and justice walk hand-in-hand.

🧵THREAD (1/19)🧵

.@TuckerCarlson called me a “disciple” of George Soros and told his audience that I was trying to wreck America. If a 10% drop in crime here in Fairfax is Tucker’s idea of wrecking America, I’d hate to see what his idea of “fixing” America is.

(2/19)

Fox News’ @JudgeJeanine said only two days ago that people shouldn’t even be treated equally under the law. I’m not sorry, Jeanine - I will always champion equality.

(3/19)

Some background: In 2019, Fairfax chose my reform platform over a 12-year “tough-on-crime” incumbent and an “independent” Republican (who later served in Trump’s administration). Our 20% margin of victory was a clear sign that Fairfax residents were ready for real reform.

(4/19)

There is an old legal adage that goes something like this: When the law is on your side, argue the law. When the facts are on your side, argue the facts. If you have neither the facts nor the law on your side, pound your fist on the table.

(5/19)

The far-right idealogues are banging their fists on the table harder than ever because the law is settled and the facts are in.

Fairfax is the safest county in the United States with a population over one million.

If you don't believe me, let's dive into the data.

(6/19)

Since 2020, crime in Fairfax County has dropped significantly. Contrary to what you’ve been told, policies of reform prosecutors like myself do not cause crime to rise.

(7/19)

Nationwide, assault offenses surged by nearly 12% in 2020, which was my first year in office. In that same year, Fairfax County saw a 3.3% drop in assaults. Assaults are still down nearly 1.5% since I've taken office.

(8/19)

On my first day in office, we stopped prosecuting people for simple possession of marijuana. I didn't do it because I was on a Grateful Dead bender. I did it to further our commitment to safety, and to use our resources more effectively. Drug offenses have plummeted.

(9/19)

Larceny, burglary, robbery, theft, B&E... Every single one of these offenses have seen steady decreases since 2019.

The most common of these, larceny/theft offenses, has dropped by 3.67% during my tenure.

(10/19)

Arson offenses have been cut almost in half over the past two years - that progress is saving time, money, grief, and property for homeowners and businesses in Fairfax County every day.

Destruction/vandalism of property has seen a modest, but measurable decline as well.

(11/19)

Counterfeiting/forgery and embezzlement offenses have declined too, by 32% and 42% respectively since I was elected. These aren't just slight improvements - they are incredible advancements in our community's financial safety.

(12/19)

I don't want to sugarcoat it - there are still threats to financial safety in our county, with fraud cases on the rise. We’re not sitting on our hands. We are doing everything we can to reverse this trend.

(13/19)

Sadly, forcible sexual offenses have stayed flat near the 5-year average. This is deeply troubling to me. I recently announced a grant program to fund community organizations that support victims of these types of crime.

(14/19)

A single homicide in our community is too many. We have taken major steps to address this uptick. Still, our homicide stats are far lower than other communities of our size. Fairfax remains one of the safest places to live in the United States.

(15/19)

My office dispatches an attorney to the scene of every homicide case in the county to ensure that we are immediately seeking justice for the families of victims.

(16/19)

I'll be the first to admit that things are not perfect in Fairfax County - but we’re working every day to build a safer and more equitable future for our community, while making sure that victims of crime see justice prevail.

(17/19)

We're also expanding our diversion programs so that past non-violent offenders, as well as those with mental health conditions, receive the help they need before they turn to a life of violent crime.

(18/19)

I'm keeping my promises as Commonwealth's Attorney: we've made our justice system more equitable, and our community is the safest of its size in the nation.

I'll say it again: despite what the far-right ideologues want you to think, safety and justice walk hand-in-hand.

(19/19)