Rauner OKs bail relief for nonviolent offenders
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation Friday to reduce county jail crowding by granting bail relief to nonviolent offenders.
The Republican governor signed the measure at Chicago Baptist Institute. He said it is “an important step in improving our state’s criminal justice system.”
The law, which takes effect immediately, allows people accused of low- level crimes to have bail reviewed quickly and perhaps lowered if they’re indigent. The same types of defendants also will earn credit, while incarcerated, toward paying any fines if ultimately convicted.
“Our system must work equally for all our residents, in every community, regardless of their income,” Rauner said. “We should be focused on putting people in jobs not jail.”
The law’s legislative sponsors joined him. They were Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Donne Trotter of Chicago, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs and Chicago Democratic state Rep. Elgie Sims.
Inability to pay bail and secure release while awaiting trial is one reason Illinois jails are overcrowded.
“Pretrial release must not focus on the defendants’ ability to pay,” Trotter said. “This new law allows the courts to look at the threat to the public safety or their risk of failure to appear.”