The Justice Digest - Issue X
Arlington County VA Government sent this bulletin at 09/26/2023 03:14 PM EDT
A Message from Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti
Dear Friends,
There is a lot to celebrate this fall, including National Expungement Week. National Expungement Week, which was founded in 2018 as a way to raise awareness of the tens of millions of adults being adversely affected by their criminal records, took place from September 17th until September 23rd. In celebration of National Expungement Week, we at the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney (OCA), in partnership with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Sheriff's Department, will be holding our annual Expungement Clinic on September 30, from 10 am until 1 pm. The event will take place at Arlington Presbyterian Church (918 S. Lincoln Street, Arlington VA 22204), where we aim to provide a “one-stop shop” for those with eligible charges to have these charges expunged.
In addition, we are currently celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place every year from September 15th until October 15th. During this month, we celebrate the culture, contributions, and history of the millions of Hispanic people in the United States. We begin celebrating on the 15th of September because it is the date that Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua gained their independence.
We also celebrated the 60th anniversary of The March on Washington, which originally took place on August 28, 1963 on the National Mall. On that date, 250,000 Americans joined the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins (Executive Secretary for the NAACP), Whitney M. Young (Director of the National Urban League) and other noted leaders to demand civil rights, voting rights, and an end to segregation. This monumental event was a catalyst for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned discrimination based on race, religion, color, and sex.
The victories in the fight for justice and equality have been hard-fought and hard-won – but they are never guaranteed. The struggle for equitable application of the law is far from over, and is being rolled back. Recently, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling in 303 CREATIVE LLC v. ELENIS, stating that a wedding website designer could refuse to take on same-sex couples as clients. This is a large step backwards for LGBTQIA+ rights. In dissent, Justice Sotomayor wrote, “This is heartbreaking. Sadly, it is also familiar. When the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements sought equality they were met with resistance. Some even claimed, based on sincere religious beliefs, constitutional rights to discriminate.”
It is times like these when a strong defense of justice is crucial to safeguarding our democracy. We at the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney proudly stand as friends, supporters, partners, and allies with you in the pursuit of justice.
Kind regards,
Parisa Dehghani-Tafti
Case Highlights
Aggravated Sexual Battery Trial #1 - On July 13, 2023, Matthew Coble was found guilty of aggravated sexual battery of a mentally incapacitated or physically helpless individual. The evidence presented at trial proved that Mr. Coble sexually abused the victim at a public park in Arlington County on July 24, 2020. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2023. The statutory range of punishment in Virginia for Aggravated Sexual Battery is a period of incarceration between one and twenty years and a fine of up to $100,000.
Aggravated Sexual Battery Trial #2 - On July 25, 2023, Dylan Veitch was found guilty of aggravated sexual battery of a minor under the age of 13 years old. The evidence presented at trial proved that Mr. Veitch sexually abused the twelve-year-old victim at her home in Arlington County in November 2019. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2023. The statutory range of punishment in Virginia for Aggravated Sexual Battery is a period of incarceration between one and twenty years and a fine of up to $100,000.
Drug Distribution - On April 13, 2023, Farouq Abdullahi was found guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, a Schedule II Controlled Substance. The evidence presented at trial was that on or about June 29, 2022, Mr. Abdullahi possessed fifty blue pills marked with “M30.” These pills are often passed off as Oxycodone, another controlled substance in Virginia. However, these pills contained fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. The Commonwealth established that Mr. Abdullahi possessed these pills with the intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute them. Mr. Abdullahi was sentenced to 5 years with all but 12 months suspended and a $5,000 fine with all of it suspended.
Restorative Justice At Work - In February 2023, a young man in his early 20’s was charged with a Felony Malicious Wounding after hitting another man in a case of mistaken identity inside a Clarendon bar. In early March 2023, we identified the case as a potential restorative justice case through the Heart of Safety Program. The program was introduced as an option to the person harmed, who was eager to participate in the restorative justice process with the person responsible for the harm. After several meetings, with the facilitation of Restorative Arlington, the two met face-to-face and worked together to develop a restorative plan where accountability was taken for the harm done. Restorative Arlington reported to us that the two men were able to meaningfully complete the restorative plan in a manner that satisfied the person harmed, and the case was then ready for closure. We made a motion to nolle pros the felony charges due to successful completion of the restorative process in mid-August.
Interview With Director of Restorative Justice
and Diversion Services Grace Woodward:
What is Restorative Justice (RJ)?
Traditional prosecution asks “what law was broken?” and “who should be punished?” In contrast, Restorative Justice asks “who was harmed?” and “how do we repair the harm?” Restorative Justice is an alternative approach to justice that focuses on repairing relationships rather than punishing offenders.
How does Restorative Justice Work?
An RJ process provides an opportunity for victims of crime to decide what they need to be whole after harm, and for defendants to take meaningful accountability for the harm they caused. An RJ process understands and responds to the needs of each involved party and the broader community. Trained facilitators create safe environments for the parties to identify, repair, and prevent future harm. After many individual preparation meetings with facilitators, and with the consent of both parties, a face-to-face encounter between the person harmed (victim) and the person responsible for harm (defendant) may take place. The person responsible for harm will have the opportunity to take responsibility, and then work with the person harmed to decide what meaningful accountability looks like in their unique case.
How many cases do you have now?
We currently have three ongoing Restorative Justice cases with more cases in the pipeline.
Check Out More Information About Our Program and Find Eligibility Requirements Here!
What is your educational background?
I have a BA degree from Harvard and a JD from Georgetown.
Why law?
I have always loved to read, write, and think analytically. I also love learning about people and their lives. And I have always valued the opportunity to make a positive difference for others. Criminal law combines these interests in a way that appeals to me greatly.
What is your role here at the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney?
I am an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, working mainly in the Juvenile and District Relations court.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your position?
I love the fact that I can help take a difficult situation and turn it into a force for good in people’s lives. Juvenile and domestic relations cases are extremely complicated because they often involve people who will be in each other’s lives forever, even when serious harm has been done. Our focus is always on the well-being of the child and the family. We believe in holding people accountable for the harm they have caused, but also in connecting them with services that will give them tools to change their behavior for the better in order to ensure that they do not commit new offenses and that the members of the family can co-exist as happily as possible going forward. It is extremely rewarding to watch this process in action.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy reading contemporary fiction and spending time with my husband and three young adult children.
WAMU 88.5 Interview - Listen as Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti joins WAMU 88.5 hosts (June 23, 2023) to discuss her re-election and goals for the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney over the next four years.
National Night Out - On August 1, 2023, we joined local attendees and Arlington County Police Officers in celebrating police-community partnership during National Night Out. This campaign took place between 5:00-8:00 p.m. across Arlington County at eleven participating locations.
Green Valley Day - On September 16, 2023, we celebrated Green Valley Community Day at Drew Elementary School. Along with many other community organizations, our office hosted an information table at the event and enjoyed great music and food with other attendees.
Expungement Clinic - Our office has planned our next Expungement Clinic which will be held on September 30, 2023 from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm! We look forward to once again providing an easy and accessible “one-stop shop” for those with eligible charges to have their records expunged. The Expungement Clinic will be located at Arlington Presbyterian Church (918 S. Lincoln Street, Arlington VA 22204). If you are planning to attend in order to have a charge expunged, please refer to our flyer for additional important information. If you or your nonprofit would like to participate, or, if you are a defense attorney willing to give pro bono hours, please let us know via email HERE!
*Group Picture at the National Night Out Celebration
|
Our Mailing Address Is: |
||||||||||
