Pretrial Fairness Act now in effect

Posted on September 18, 2023
Vanessa Knox, of the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, says eliminating cash bail means true fairness. (WJBC File Photo)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Community groups representing the Springfield area and the state celebrated Monday at the state Capitol – as the new law ending cash bail took effect.

State Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) has a response for those who criticize the new law as putting counties into a financial crunch.

“We’ve put additional resources in the legislation already,” said Ammons, “and we will review that as the implementation starts to manifest some of the other issues around the system.”

A representative of the ACLU of Illinois found it interesting that the law’s opponents have pivoted from “bad guys will run into the streets when the jailhouse doors open” to the financial consideration.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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