CHICAGO, Ill — State lawmakers are discussing criminal justice reforms, including a proposal to end cash bail in Illinois.
At a special committee on public safety hearing Thursday in Chicago, legislators heard from several officials about how to improve the justice system.
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton would like to see and end to cash bail, saying many remain incarcerated for petty crimes simply because they can’t afford bail.
“You see for many families, $1000 or even $100 in bond might as well equal $1 million dollars,” said Stratton. “Does the cash bail system protect public safety, or does it protect wealth?”
Brittany Williams, a 29-year-old mother of three from Chicago, said her life was turned upside down in October 2017 when her husband was arrested on a traffic charge. His bail was set at $100,000, meaning he needed to pay 10 percent, or $10,000, to be released.
“This experience was traumatic because it took time away from my newborn and it caused me to get back to work before I was even ready,” Williams said.
There was plenty of opposition on hand to ending the cash bail system in Illinois.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin is not in favor of it, and said he is joined by many district attorneys across the state.
“The biggest issue that prosecutors see with the current bail system is we all have stories of violent offenders who get out on bond and then commit violent offenses,” said Berlin.
McHenry County Sheriff Bill Prim urged committee members to consider the victims of crime.
“When they are violated in their homes or in public by predatory neighbors, what will they think when that same predator walks by a free man later that same day?” said Prim.
Thursday’s hearing included members of two Senate committees and one House committee that will deal with criminal justice reform issues this session.
