A shift in criminal justice is taking place in Illinois, making it the first state in the U.S. to abolish cash bail. Starting September 18, the Land of Lincoln will become a testing ground for pre-trial fairness.
A judge will now have to rigorously review each case before deciding who stays behind bars.
Why is this a big deal? Let’s talk numbers. A 2022 federal report showed that Black men received bail amounts 35 percent higher than white men. Nearly 74 percent of the 631,000 people jailed daily in the U.S. haven’t even been tried yet.
Critics have called the system a cousin to slavery, disproportionately affecting Black and brown communities. Opponents warn that without cash bail, more defendants may skip court appearances.
But New Jersey’s switch to a risk assessment model suggests otherwise. Rates of new criminal charges and no-shows in court remained steady.
Illinois’ criminal justice system is boldly marching into new territory.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
