The Governor
says he wants to end the use of cash bail, or what is known as “money bond” in
Illinois. I think he is doing it for all the wrong reasons. Almost everybody in
law enforcement outside of Cook County doesn’t like the idea.
Those who
want to get rid of cash bail believe it holds those less fortunate behind bars
while affluent alleged lawbreakers get released, making them better able to
prepare themselves for trial. The proponents also suggest the practice is
racist and forces guilty pleas from innocent people.
The race
card doesn’t really play well here. The inmates downtown look rather pale.
Even with
our county jail nearly full, I’d rather have a hefty bond set on an alleged
sexual offender than sending him back out into the community. Judges already
have the authority to lower a bond amount or release people on their own
recognizance if they deem the initial bond to be too high.
You know why
the Governor is pushing this? New York did it first. We can never look the
other way when New York or California come up with a bad idea.
Dropping
cash bail, will make it harder for a State’s Attorney to barter negotiated
pleas. This measure would greatly increase trials in an already congested
system, so I’m against it.
Chalk it up
to another case where Cook County’s problems cast a long shadow over the other
101 counties in Illinois.
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