Elimination of Cash Bail is One Component of Controversial Police Reforms Legislation

Before it even hit the Illinois House floor Friday, a bill that includes many social justice police reforms was causing controversy.

One part of the 611-page amendment to House Bill 163, a massive police reform initiative introduced by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, is a Pretrial Fairness Act, which would abolish cash bail.

The aim of the legislation would set free certain alleged criminal offenders without having to wait for their court date when they couldn't afford bond. Instead, a judge would issue pre-trial release conditions for offenders.

The measure would still allow a judge to detain a person, but only for specific felony offenses such as domestic battery, murder, or gun crimes.

A coalition of law enforcement groups including the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Sheriffs Association are strongly opposed to the proposed legislation.

Local legislators Darren Bailey and Jason Plummer have spoken out against the proposal.

The measure could come up in committee Saturday.