December 28, 2022
There are few practices in the criminal legal system more abhorrent than using access to wealth to determine whether someone is jailed while awaiting trial.
The use of money bond has always been an affront to several basic Constitutional principles, making a mockery of the presumption of innocence and reducing critical decisions to mere guesswork about what may or may not be in someone’s pocketbook.
It is a process that has decimated communities and turned Illinois courtrooms into auction blocks.
The time has come to end this unserious policy.
The Cook County Public Defender's Office is relieved that the Illinois Supreme Court will have the opportunity to clarify the constitutionality of the Pretrial Fairness Act soon. In the meantime, we expect the law to go into effect on January 1, 2023 in Cook County.
Contact:
Fiona Ortiz, Deputy of Communications
fiona.ortiz@cookcountyil.gov