What is a Commonwealth’s Attorney?

The Commonwealth’s Attorney is the community leader who shapes its justice system. Thousands of cases come through the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office each year and it’s the job of the officeholder to ensure the community’s values are front and center when determining how to treat those cases. As the elected leader of the criminal justice system, the Commonwealth’s Attorney is responsible for making the system transparent and guaranteeing that it works for the community, not just for lawyers.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney decides which cases get prosecuted and how those cases will be handled. Their office leads dozens of prosecutors—establishing a strategic direction, setting the policies that direct the prosecutors, and creating the culture of the office. The critical decisions made by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office include determining:

• Whether to accept or reject a case;

• What charges to bring in a case the office has accepted;

• Whether to prosecute or seek alternatives to prosecution;

• Bail recommendations;

• The types of plea offers to make;

• How much information to provide to defendants;

• The types of sentences to seek; and

• How transparent to be with the public.

As a leader of the County’s criminal justice system, the responsibilities of the Commonwealth’s Attorney go beyond the courthouse. They have the duty to ensure that their office conducts its business transparently and invites the community to be a part of improving the criminal justice system. The Commonwealth’s Attorney also fights for the community by acting as an advocate. In Richmond, they stand up to legislatures who don’t share the community’s values. Similarly, the Commonwealth’s Attorney is responsible for building coalitions in Richmond so the criminal justice system gets the needed resources to achieve justice and equality.