Office of the Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our office is open 8AM-5PM M-F
703-246-2776 TTY 711
4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 114
Fairfax, VA 22030
Steve T. Descano
Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney

Department Resources

Conviction Integrity Unit

In February of 2025, the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney's Office launched its' first-ever Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU). The CIU was designed in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project (MAIP), an organization that helps defend or exonerate individuals wrongfully accused or convicted of crimes in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. MAIP has been working to prevent and correct wrongful convictions of innocent defendants for more than two decades, helping secure the release or exoneration of 44 men in the DMV region who have served a combined total of nearly 900 years in prison – time that could've been spent with their family and loved ones. 

The Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project has also been instrumental in the passing of 20 pieces of legislation across the DMV. In 2021, MAIP worked with the University of Virginia's Innocence Project Clinic and the Innocence Project to pass legislation that made criminal investigative files in closed cases accessible to the public.

Request an Application for Relief

After requesting and later submitting an application, the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project's Intake and Screening Department will carefully review the information provided to determine whether the case warrants further investigation. If the case is accepted by MAIP, their team will work with the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney's Office to secure any additional documents, materials, or evidence that could support the applicants claims of innocence. 

Get help from the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project

What is a Conviction Integrity Unit?

Conviction Integrity Units (CIUs), also known as Conviction Review Units, are an essential part of our mission to make Fairfax County's criminal legal system both fairer and more just. Looking at both past and current felony cases in Fairfax County, the CIU works with our partners at the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project to identify individuals who may have been the subject of a wrongful conviction and secure more just outcomes.

Am I eligible to have my case reviewed?

To be eligible for review, individuals must have a felony conviction in Fairfax County and be willing to sign an affidavit that they are factually innocent. Priority will be given to applicants who are currently incarcerated and likely to remain so for the duration of MAIP's investigative process.

What happens after my case is reviewed?

After MAIP reviews all relevant documents to your case, they will determine whether or not to accept the case for further investigation. The Commonwealth Attorney's Office will assist MAIP in securing any additional documents, witness testimony, or other materials necessary to conduct their independent investigation. If your case is accepted, MAIP will immediately begin working with the Commonwealth Attorney's Office to begin litigation on any applicable recourse.

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