The government of Illinois, JB Pritzker (D), this week signed a comprehensive law on criminal law reform, making its state the first in the country to end its cash bail.
In an announcement setting out the legislation, signed by the governor on Monday, Pritzker’s office said the policy action would help shift the state ‘from a system of provisional detention that prioritizes wealth, to one that public safety preposition. ‘ The practice of cash bail in the country has drawn criticism as an unequal effect on people of color and those with low incomes, while benefiting the accused with a richer background.
The move to end the practice is just one of a number of policy actions included in House Bill 3653, which, according to the governor’s office, are aimed at expanding ‘security, fairness and justice by transforming the state’s criminal justice system’.
Other actions in the bill set out in the announcement include the mandate to carry out the use of cameras in the police throughout the country, the establishment of standards for the use of force, disarmament and arrest techniques, as well as the lifting of licenses. suspensions over unpaid fines and fees for certain traffic offenses.
Pritzker said in a statement that the legislation is an important step towards dismantling the systemic racism that plagues our communities, our state and our nation and brings us closer to true security, true justice and true justice. ‘
“In this terrible year, amid a brutal viral pandemic that has hurt blacks and colored people excessively, lawmakers have fought to address the pandemic of systemic racism following national protests,” he continued.
“This bill has also been added with solutions from individuals most affected: survivors of domestic violence, survivors of crime and those who have been detained for trial only because they are poor,” the governor added.
The governor also blamed the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus for its efforts to address the bill against Republican opposition.
State Senator Elgie Sims (D), a member of the caucus, said the reforms “should be the first steps in transforming criminal law in Illinois.”
“We need to re-introduce accountability. We need to re-introduce transparency. We need to re-introduce imprisonment. These reforms are a start,” he said.
‘This historic moment is the result of a monumental effort by many people, from those who testified on these issues during the 30 hours of public hearings, to those who campaigned for years for some of these reforms, and especially to the “Illinois residents who indicated their support,” Sims said. “I thank them for raising their voices and never giving up, and I thank Government Pritzker for making these measures a constitution. The journey continues. ”
‘We’ve been working for a decade to reduce our reliance on the outdated cash bail system in Cook County; and our efforts have shown that we can do it safely, ”said Toni Preckwinkle, president of Cook County.
“This work, coupled with the decades of advocacy and expertise from across the state and from the communities most affected by crime, has informed this courageous and equitable legislature,” Preckwinkle added.