Read, Watch, and Respond to this discussion point. Explain your reasoning and decision in the case.

Review

• Governor J. B. Pritzker of Illinois, signed House Bill 3653, a sweeping package of criminal justice reform measures, into law on Monday, February 22, 2021.
• Included amongst the other provisions is the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act, which has been referred to as some as the centerpiece of the bill.
• The act, which abolishes cash bail in the state, will make Illinois the first state in the country to put an end to the controversial practice.
• Certain provisions will go into effect on July 1, 2021, while the cash bail provision will not go into effect until January 2023.

Key Statistics from the Prison Policy Institute

• Percent of people in city and county jails being held pretrial: 74%
• Median bail bond for a felony: $10,000
• Average yearly income for a man who can't afford bail: $16,000. For women: $11,000
• Percent of women who can't afford bail who have minor children: 66%
• Percent of pretrial population that is Black: 43%
• Share of jail population growth since 1983 cause by pretrial detention: 63%
• Annual national cost of pretrial detention: $13.6 billion

Watch

The Significance of Illinois Ending Cash Bail

https://youtu.be/eFJCrgGpdpc

Pritzker signs criminal justice reform bill that would end cash bail by 2023 https://youtu.be/ry3cGXbvUhY

Here's the Problem With the Cash Bail System https://youtu.be/Aao0q593DoI

According to opponents of the bill, the limiting or elimination of cash bail leads to increases in crime. Do you believe that releasing people pretrial harms public safety?