Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed new criminal justice reform legislation that will make the state the first in the nation to completely get rid of cash bail.
According to Just The News, the governor’s office released a statement saying that the policy will help to take the state of Illinois from “a system of pretrial detention that prioritizes wealth, to one that prioritizes public safety.”
The cash bail system has been drawing some heavy criticism in recent times due to supposedly disproportionately impacting individuals who are low-income and also people of color.
Pritzker went on to say that the bill he signed on Monday “marks a substantial step toward dismantling the systemic racism that plagues our communities, our state and our nation and brings us closer to true safety, true fairness and true justice.”
This particular bill is part of a series of legislative reforms that Pritzker’s office says are focused on increasing “safety, fairness and justice by transforming the state’s criminal justice system.”
Here’s what else is being included in this piece of legislation:
- Mandated use of body cameras in police departments across Illinois.
- Statewide standards on the use of force, deescalation, and arrest techniques.
- Elimination of license suspensions over unpaid fines and fees from traffic offenses.
The governor then gave a hearty slap on the back to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus for helping to push the bill through some rather serious opposition from Republicans.
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