SPRINGFIELD – Eliminating cash bail in Illinois was once again front and center at a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday.
The Criminal Law and Special Committee on Public Safety heard testimony on the benefits and drawbacks of ending money bonds.
Malik Alim, a member of the Coalition to End Money Bonds, said people often sit in jail because they don’t have the means to pay. However, Jim Kaitschuk, President of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association, said ending money bonds has not worked out in other places.
A surge in crime led New York to rollback the elimination of money bonds this year. Governor J.B. Pritzker has released 7 guidelines for justice reform, including ending cash bail.