Eliminating Cash Bail & the SAFE-T Act: Encore Presentation
Beginning September 18th, Illinois will now become the first state in the nation to end cash bail as a condition of pretrial release, as the Illinois Supreme Court ruled this week by a 5-2 margin that this key provision in the state’s new criminal justice reform law is indeed constitutional.
Beginning September 18th, Illinois will now become the first state in the nation to end cash bail as a condition of pretrial release, as the Illinois Supreme Court ruled this week by a 5-2 margin that this key provision in the state’s new criminal justice reform law is indeed constitutional.
Yet while the legal challenges to this part of the SAFE-T Act are resolved, the policy debate and politics surrounding the elimination of cash bail will undoubtedly continue as the 2024 election looms ahead.
The Center for Illinois Politics seeks to continue doing our part in keeping people well-informed on all sides of important policy questions, so we’re re-posting an encore presentation of our widely-viewed March 1, 2021, Zoom/Facebook Live forum on criminal justice reform led by the Center’s contributing editor, noted political journalist Derrick Blakley.
Also featured are sponsoring State Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago); State’s Attorneys Kim Foxx (D-Cook), Robert Berlin (R-DuPage), Eric Reinhart (D-Lake) and Jacqueline Lacy (R-Vermillion); and criminal justice expert Prof. David Olson of Loyola University.
Recent reports
Illinois’ top issues
The Center for Illinois Politics is dedicated to providing you with clear, fact-based, non-partisan information on our state’s biggest issues.
IL Campaign Cash
Take a streamlined spin behind the scenes through Illinois’ biggest and most impactful campaign funds.
Illinois’ top issues
With elections behind us, it’s time to get down to business. The Center for Illinois Politics your resource for non-partisan information on our state’s biggest issues: