US EditionCash bail disproportionately impacts communities of color. Illinois is the first state to abolish it
- Illinois will become the first state to abolish cash bail as a condition of pretrial release, with the Pretrial Fairness Act taking effect on September 18. Judges will have to conduct a more rigorous review of each case before deciding whether to keep defendants accused of serious crimes behind bars before trial.
- Critics argue that cash bail policies are unfair to Black people and people of color, with studies showing higher pretrial detention penalties imposed on Black and Latino individuals. The previous cash bail system in Illinois has been described as "a cousin to slavery" by Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell Jr.
- Between 1970 and 2015, there was a fivefold increase in the number of people jailed before trials, with over 60% of defendants detained due to inability to post bail. Other states, such as New Jersey, have implemented risk assessment processes instead of cash bail, with data showing no significant increase in new crimes or failures to appear in court.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Cash bail disproportionately impacts communities of color. Illinois is the first state to abolish it
CHICAGO (AP) — It took four and a half months for Shannon Ross’ life to unravel. Ross, who describes himself as Indigenous and a person of color, was arrested in Chicago in October 2019 on weapons charges and ultimately found not guilty. But that came only after he spent months in jail awaiting trial, lost his home, car, job and countless moments with his children. Ross couldn’t afford the $75,000 bond set during a hearing that he recalls lasted…
Cash bail disproportionately impacts communities of color
Claire Savage and Corey WilliamsAssociated PressCHICAGO — It took four and a half months for Shannon Ross' life to unravel.Ross, who describes himself as Indigenous and a person of color, was arrested in Chicago in October 2019 on weapons charges and ultimately found not guilty. But that came only after he spent months in jail awaiting trial, lost his home, car, job and countless moments with his children.Ross couldn't afford the $75,000 bond se…
Cash bail disproportionately impacts communities of color. Illinois is the first state to abolish it
By CLAIRE SAVAGE and COREY WILLIAMS (Associated Press) CHICAGO (AP) — It took four and a half months for Shannon Ross’ life to unravel. Ross, who describes himself as Indigenous and a person of color, was arrested in Chicago in October 2019 on weapons charges and ultimately found not guilty. But that came only after he spent months in jail awaiting trial, lost his home, car, job and countless moments with his children. Ross couldn’t afford the $…
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