Illinois Governor Signs Bail Relief Legislation in Chicago

Governor Bruce Rauner signed a bill that will revamp how the state handles bail.

The legislation will also bring changes to criminal justice such as helping motivate inmates to participate in rehabilitation programs, including job training and substance abuse programs.

These changes are meant to lower the number of people in the jail.

Rauner signed the bill in Chicago surrounded by other lawmakers and the Cook County State's Attorney.

In a statement released by the governor's office, several comments on the new law were made:

"We are taking an important step in improving our state’s criminal justice system,” Governor Rauner said. “Our system must work equally for all our residents, in every community, regardless of their income. We should be focused on putting people in jobs not jail."

"Pretrial release must not focus on the defendants’ ability to pay,” Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, said. “This new law allows the courts to look at the threat to the public safety or their risk of failure to appear."

"Our efforts to reform Illinois' broken criminal justice system must focus on protecting victims, providing second chances to individuals who have made mistakes and incapacitating those who are threats to the safety of our communities,” Rep. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, said. “By reforming our broken bail system, Illinois becomes a national leader in ensuring incapacitation is reserved for those who are threats to public safety, not those who are poor or suffer from mental health or substance abuse challenges. I applaud the Governor for signing SB 2034 and making it law in Illinois and will continue to work with him to reform our state's criminal justice system."

"Extending RICO and reforming our bail bond system is both tough but smart on crime. RICO is a valued tool for law enforcement and prosecutors to conduct long term investigations against street gangs and criminal enterprises throughout the state. Bail reform makes sense based the multiple examples of low level misdemeanor defendants spending extended time in the jail awaiting trial for lack of resources. The legislation signed today is a good example of forward thinking legislation worked in a bi -partisan manner,” said House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.

"This legislation represents a major step in achieving meaningful reform while maintaining the tools we need to fight violent crime,” Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said. “By preventing the expiration of state RICO, the legislature has maintained an important tool that can help aggressively pursue those high-level players who are orchestrating narcotics and firearms trafficking; while at the same time making strides towards reforming Illinois’ broken bond system, which too often detains individuals who pose no threat to public safety simply because they are poor."

"It is with tremendous excitement and thankfulness to Governor Bruce Rauner and our Illinois legislators for passing my SB 2034,” advocate Dr. Willie Wilson said. “Their courage, support and dedication to non-violent prison reform with will help put an end to this moral issue and set the example throughout the country and United States of America. This movement is well past due, and I'm proud to say that the State of Illinois is taking this stand."

Additionally, the bill extends the Illinois RICO statute until 2022.

The Illinois Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute is an important tool for prosecutors and law enforcement.

The bill also adds a number of jobs considered public officials under the statute that handles threats to public officials.

Social workers, case workers, attorneys, or investigators who work for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, or the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission are now covered under the law.

State Senator Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, released the following statement on Gov. Rauner signing the Bail Reform Act into law:

"It is unjust for someone’s wealth to determine whether they stay in jail while awaiting a trial, rather than the nature of their alleged crime.

The cash bond system disproportionately harms lower-income offenders, often leaving low-risk offenders in jail and contributing to the overcrowding of the prison system. The legislation that becomes law today will ensure that a person’s threat to public safety determines their potential release, not the amount of money in their bank account."