Illinois will become first state to END cash bail

Posted 8 days ago

From WWW.DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

Illinois is set to become the first state to end cash bail with a law signed Monday that has been slammed by some in law enforcement.

The sweeping overhaul of policing and criminal justice also requires police agencies to equip officers with body cameras by 2025 and strictly defines use-of-force rules for law enforcement. It also eliminates the need for a signed, sworn affidavits when filing a complaints against officers.

But major organizations representing police and prosecutors say they weren't consulted on critical pieces. Opponents, including the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, have criticized the bill.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition said it is 'a blatant move to punish an entire, honorable profession that will end up hurting law-abiding citizens the most'. They argue that it will hamstring police and discourage talented people from joining law enforcement.

Among other things, they contend the use-of-force rules are too restrictive as to endanger officers; that dangerous people may be set free while awaiting trial; and that requiring body cameras for all departments by 2025 will be too costly.

'The governor is willfully undermining public safety - endangering citizens, emboldening criminals, and making Illinois less safe for families,' Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy said.

GOP Sen. John Curran said: 'This 700-plus page proposal was rammed through in the middle of the night with just hours left in a lame-duck session without the transparency and discourse expected in a democratic process.'

The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, which designed the massive measure, hailed it as a historic response to the deaths last year of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky.

Democratic Gov. J. B. Pritzker signed the bill into law Monday at Chicago State University. He said: 'This l... (Read more)

Illinois will become first state to END cash bail

From WWW.DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

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