Fairfax County prosecutor formally ends cash bail, joining a growing movement

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano (D) at an October news conference. (Tom Jackman/The Washington Post)

Fairfax County’s top prosecutor formally announced Monday that his office would no longer seek cash bail, saying it exacerbates inequalities between the rich and poor in the criminal justice system.

The announcement codifies what had been the general practice of Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve T. Descano (D) since he took office in January after running on a platform of bringing major changes in Virginia’s largest county.