Key takeaways:
- The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the state’s decision to end the use of cash bail, making Illinois the first state in the nation to do so.
- The ruling has been met with praise from those who have long argued that cash bail unfairly affects people of color.
- The ruling is seen as a major victory for criminal justice reform advocates, who have long argued that cash bail unfairly affects people of color and those in economic distress.
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the state’s decision to end the use of cash bail, making Illinois the first state in the nation to do so. The ruling overturns a lower court’s opinion that the law was unconstitutional.
The decision was made in a 5-2 ruling on Tuesday, upholding the SAFE-T ACT, a major criminal justice reform bill signed into law by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker in early 2021. The law eliminates cash bail as a condition of pretrial release from jail.
Proponents of the law argue that cash bail is a penalty on poverty, as those with more financial resources are able to pay their way out of jail while those in economic distress are forced to remain in jail. The ruling has been met with praise from those who have long argued that cash bail unfairly affects people of color.
The ruling has been met with opposition from prosecutors and sheriffs in 64 counties, who argued that the law would lead to an increase in crime. However, the court’s ruling stands, and Illinois is now the first state in the nation to eliminate cash bail.
The ruling is seen as a major victory for criminal justice reform advocates, who have long argued that cash bail unfairly affects people of color and those in economic distress. It remains to be seen how the ruling will affect the criminal justice system in Illinois.
Be First to Comment