Political and Legislative
Illinois Becomes the First State to End Cash Bail
CHICAGO — Illinois has set the stage for a significant overhaul of its criminal justice system after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed off on a new law that not only institutes major police reforms but also makes the state the first in the nation to completely abolish cash bail.
House Bill 3653, which was several years in the making, aims to make sweeping changes to the state’s existing policies on policing and adjudication.
The legislation, which was signed Monday, comes at a critical time as nationwide calls to address racial bias in the justice system have intensified following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody in May, Pritzker said after signing the law.
