The Illinois Pre-Trial Fairness Act, part of Illinois House Bill 3653, was deemed unconstitutional in 2021. It provided criminal justice measures to end cash bail, required officers to wear body-cams, and much more.
The bill was sponsored primarily by Black Illinois lawmakers shortly after the death of George Floyd in 2020. Opponents of the bill argued that the measures included in it were seemingly “anti-police” in nature. Why does protecting our community signal danger for law enforcement?
The original ruling was overturned 5-2 in favor of eliminating cash bail. Bail should no longer be a deciding factor in determining whether someone will be detained or not.
Opponents of this new development argue that eliminating cash bail will put dangerous criminals back on the streets. This thinking plays into the anti-Black motives of the prison industrial complex.
Ending cash bail would prevent people from entering the prison system and should be a reality in every state. We must continue organizing and making our voices heard to make this happen.