Illinois , Poised to Enact , Sweeping Bail Reform .
On January 1, Illinois will become
the first state to completely
eliminate cash bail. .
ABC reports that the closely-watched
move to advance racial justice has also
raised concerns for public safety.
Last year, Illinois lawmakers passed
a sweeping overhaul of the state's
criminal justice system.
The SAFE-T Act included drastic changes
to pretrial detainment protocols. .
According to the legislation, presumption
of release becomes the default, ending any
financial considerations for being released. .
The use of money as a determining
factor in whether somebody is going
to be in or out of jail before trial
is really just an abhorrent practice, Sharone Mitchell, Cook County Public Defender, via ABC.
ABC reports that judges will now carry
the primary responsibility of deciding
who is detained before a trial.
Under the new legislation, judges can only require detention if the state can prove that a defendant , "poses a specific, real and present threat to
a person, or has a high likelihood of flight." .
In each individual case, we will now
have an opportunity to make a better
decision as a system, along with returning
those dollars to communities that are
desperate to retain other things
to keep them safe and healthy, Sharone Mitchell, Cook County Public Defender, via ABC.
According to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights,
over 60% of defendants in U.S. jails are eligible for
release but held in custody because they can't afford bail