Bail Reform

With end of cash bail, ‘dramatic increase’ in appeals from people ordered held in jail or told to submit to restrictions to be released

The Illinois Supreme Court announced this week it had created a task force to study the issue and report back to the state’s highest court.

By Matthew Hendrickson

The George N Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 2650 S California Ave.

Bail Reform

Illinois became the first state to eliminate cash bail. Here’s how it’s working

Officials in Cook County say implementation has been seamless, but the new policy put a strain on resources elsewhere in Illinois.

By Mawa Iqbal | WBEZ

A duffle bag branded with the logos of the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice, which advocated for the end of cash bail in Illinois, and Chicago rapper Vic Mensa’s cannabis company, 93 Boyz.

Bail Reform

Justice reform groups partner with Vic Mensa’s pot company to provide care packages to people released from jail

The packages are co-branded with the logos of the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice and the rapper’s cannabis company, 93 Boyz.

By Matthew Hendrickson

The Cook County Jail had 4,980 detainees as of Tuesday, according to Sheriff Tom Dart’s office, one of the lowest counts since the mid-1980s. Andy Grimm / Chicago Sun-Times

Bail Reform

With cash bail eliminated in Illinois, Cook County Jail population shrinks

The numbers are near a 40-year low, but experts say they could rise as defendants now deemed too risky to release remain locked up.

By Chip Mitchell | WBEZ

Bail Reform

Cook County judges talk about their first week without cash bail: ‘The world is looking at us’

Despite glitches in other courthouses, the first week of bail reform in Cook County went relatively smoothly.

By Matthew Hendrickson

Bail Reform

Some downstate counties struggled as bail reform took hold this week; one didn’t even try applying the new law

Many downstate prosecutors had joined an unsuccessful legal challenge to the law doing away with cash bail.

By Mawa Iqbal | WBEZ and Chip Mitchell | WBEZ

A holding cell in the Domestic Violence Courthouse in 2005. There were 16 cases of misdemeanor domestic violence before Judge Michael Hogan on Monday. Prosecutors sought to detain people in 14 of them.

Bail Reform

In Domestic Violence Court, promising first day of bail reform as judge works ‘few kinks out of the system’

“Overall, this was encouraging — and a bit of a relief,” said Amanda Pyron of the Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence.

By Sophie Sherry

Bail Reform

Bail reform sees a smooth rollout in Cook County

Despite a frenzied Monday morning of last-minute preparations, the hearings at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse were not substantially different from the old cash bail system.

By Matthew Hendrickson and Tom Schuba

Los jueces decidirán las condiciones bajo las cuales una persona será puesta en libertad. Entre ellos se puede incluir el requisito de que el acusado sea sometido a vigilancia electrónica, sometido a un toque de queda o sometido a pruebas de detección de drogas.

Bail Reform

Illinois becomes first state in nation to eliminate cash bail: Here’s how it will work

It’s been two years since the Pretrial Fairness Act was passed, but questions remain about who will be jailed and who will not.

By Matthew Hendrickson

Illinois, on Monday, will become the first state in the country to eliminate cash bail.

Editorials

The stakes are high as Illinois ends cash bail

As the Pretrial Fairness Act is implemented, the public needs and deserves transparency about its impact. Some activists fear judges may turn to electronic monitoring, but as long as judges follow the law, we see no grounds for complaint.

By CST Editorial Board

The George Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 2650 S. California Ave. in Little Village, pictured in May 2022.

Letters to the Editor

Pretrial Fairness Act puts too much work on overworked prosecutors, judges

Additional administrative work demanded by the law ending cash bail, coupled with staff shortages, is a problem when it comes to the safety of domestic abuse victims.

By Letters to the Editor

Bail Reform

Courts will be ready when Illinois ends cash bail Monday, Chicago-area officials say

“Things aren’t going to be too different for us,” said Cook County Judge Mary Marubio. “It’s just that money will no longer be a condition of release.”

By Matthew Hendrickson

Madeleine Behr of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation outside the organization’s Loop offices.

Bail Reform

Bail reform can protect victims of domestic, sexual violence, activists say

“Everyone has to be focused on day one, recommending decisions to the judge and making sure that the law is implemented as intended,” said Amanda Pyron, leader of a coalition of victim advocacy groups.

By Sophie Sherry

A transmitter on the ankle of a person on electronic monitoring.

Bail Reform

End of cash bail next week could spark more electronic monitoring, bail reform supporters fear

Ankle bracelets, originally used to detain people convicted of crimes, have “little impact on pretrial misconduct” of people awaiting trial, bail reform advocates say.

By Chip Mitchell | WBEZ

Crime

How bail reform will work in Illinois

The act backed by the Illinois Supreme Court Tuesday lays out new procedures for detaining someone.

By Matthew Hendrickson

Politics

Five things to know as Safe-T Act — and future of cash bail — goes before Illinois Supreme Court

On Tuesday, the Illinois Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the controversial law.

By Shannon Heffernan | WBEZ

Crime

Illinois Supreme Court won’t hear arguments on eliminating cash bail until March

The court is scheduled to hear legal challenges during its March term. The schedule does not give a date for the justices to issue a ruling.

By Sun-Times staff

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the criminal justice reform bill into law at Chicago State University in February of 2021 as sponsors and supporters look on.

Politics

Judge rules portion of SAFE-T Act ending cash bail is unconstitutional

Kankakee County Chief Judge Thomas Cunnington sided with prosecutors and sheriffs from across Illinois in ruling that the cash bail section of the legislation violates the Illinois Constitution. Attorney General Kwame Raoul has vowed to appeal.

By Emmanuel Camarillo, Kade Heather, and 3 more

State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, center, testifies before the Senate Executive Committee on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, on his legislation to clarify the SAFE-T Act, a sweeping criminal justice overhaul that notably eliminates cash bail. Accompanying Peters are co-sponsors Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, left, and Sen. Scott Bennett, D-Champaign.

Letters to the Editor

Revised SAFE-T Act will still cause chaos, put dangerous people on the streets

Those who question the amendments are accused of “fear-mongering” or spreading “misinformation.” But proponents gave Illinoisans little detailed information about the Act, and the people deserve more than that.

By Letters to the Editor

Flanked by lawmakers and supporters, Gov. J.B. Pritzker picks up the nearly 800-page criminal justice reform bill after signing it into law during a ceremony at Chicago State University on the South Side, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021.

Metro/State

SAFE-T Act faces next test in court, where opponents say it violates state constitution

Lawyers argue that, “The Illinois Constitution interprets bail, at its core, to include a monetary amount that, though it may take different forms, cannot be abolished altogether without running afoul of the Constitution.”

By Jon Seidel