Illinois Becomes First State To Eliminate Cash Bail

Illinois Is Now The First State In The Country To Abolish Cash Bail For People Who Have Been Arrested And Are Waiting For Their Court Date.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker Signed The Pretrial Fairness Act, Making The Move Even With Major Opposition From The State's Police Community And 98% Of The County States Attorneys.

Cash Bonds Have Been Controversial With Criminal Justice Reform Advocates Who Say Cash Bail Discriminates Against Poor People And Has A Disproportionately Negative Impact On People Of Color.

The Bill Will Also Eliminate Cash Bail For People Charged With Felonies If It's Decided They Do Not Pose A Threat To Society.

The State’s Law Enforcement Community Say The Bill Is An Anti-police Measure That Will Put Both The Public And Police In Danger, And That Their Input Was Not Asked For By The Governor Or The Bill's Sponsors.

Pritzker Responded By Saying
“Opponents Of This Law Don’t Want Any Change, Don’t Believe There Is Injustice In The System, And Are Preying Upon Fear Of Change To Lie And Fearmonger In Defense Of The Status Quo.