(The Center Square) – One year after the Safe-T Act ended cash bail in Illinois, supporters of the law are touting its benefits.
Since the Pretrial Fairness Act portion of Illinois’ Safe-T Act took effect on September 18th of last year, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said hearings are now based on safety and not wealth.
“Fewer people are jailed pretrial, and more can keep their jobs, homes and family connections while awaiting trial,” Preckwinkle said.
The sponsor of the Pretrial Fairness Act, Democratic State Rep. Justin Slaughter, addressed the financial impact of the law.
“On average, annually, Illinoisans were spending $140 million on money bonds. These millions of dollars will now remain with family members across the state to contribute to the overall well-being and economic security of entire communities,” Slaughter said.
Under cash bail, bond money was returned to defendants, guilty or not, once their court dates were fulfilled.
Earlier this year, Slaughter called for $140 million from Illinois taxpayers to fund violence-prevention efforts with the Reimagine Public Safety Act, which he introduced in 2021 and amended in 2023.
The 27th District representative said that jail populations have declined since the Pretrial Fairness Act eliminated cash bail in Illinois one year ago.
Slaughter also said that crime rates are going down. According to Slaughter, statewide violent and property crime rates dropped 12% since the law took effect.
Illinois Democratic State Sen. Robert Peters said Republicans spread disinformation about the legislation.
“The only purge that happened in Illinois was Republican leadership had to change hands, and so what I say is, I hope everybody understands that the people here are fighting for what it means to have safety,” Peters said.
Peters added that Illinois is the first state in the country to eliminate cash bail, and he then called for a statewide public defender system.
“I want to make sure that everybody knows, whether you’re in New York, California, or Texas, you can be just like us. We’re on the right path here,” Peters said.
While advocates and elected officials celebrated the one-year anniversary of cashless bail in Illinois, safety concerns remain.
Crime rates are still high in some areas. According to CWBChicago, 25 people on felony pretrial release have been accused of shooting, killing, or trying to shoot or kill someone in Chicago this year.
CWB suggests that the actual number of murders and shootings committed by people awaiting trial for felony allegations is higher. Citing Chicago Police Department data, CWB says that police have brought charges in less than 5% of non-fatal shootings and 33% of murders since 2017.
Robbery statistics have increased dramatically. CWBChicago reported last month that shoplifting reports have soared 45% this year, making 2024 the worst year for retail theft in the city since at least 2003.
Republican Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Bob Fioretti said people are leaving because of crime and the Democratic Party’s philosophy.
“The criminal defendant is the good guy. Police are the bad guy, and the victims? They just don’t count,” Fioretti said.
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