Bailey blasts end of cash bail

August 10, 2022 | By Capitol News Illinois

GOP candidate for governor Darren Bailey is criticizing the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform which will eliminate cash bail in Illinois by Jan. 1, 2023.

The Illinois Supreme Court Pretrial Implementation Task Force has been in the process of breaking down several aspects of the SAFE-T Act as Illinois approaches 2023.

It has released four flow charts showing how the new law will be implemented in terms of which offenders can be arrested and held pretrial and which will receive a citation and be released before a court appearance. Below is the current draft of the “Release By Citation” flow chart.

The task force’s mission is to help prepare the justice system for the changes coming from the Pretrial Fairness Act, as well as suggesting potential changes to the act prior to Jan. 1.

“It is frustrating because many aspects of the statute are not clear, they may be vague, gray areas” Judge Robbin Stuckert, who chairs the task force, said at the board’s July town hall. “And again, we are charged by the Supreme Court to assist with implementation.”

Stuckert said the various flow charts are aimed to guide all facets of the justice system on the new law, and they contain considerations as the new laws are implemented.

One looming question, the task force noted, is what will happen with people who are held on bail in 2022 once the calendar hits 2023. The law is “silent” on what happens, task force members noted, indicating they were hopeful the General Assembly would address the matter before January.

The task force’s next town hall will take place at noon Thursday, Aug. 18.