This month, the Illinois Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case examining the Safe-T Act. The legislation would bring sweeping reform to the state’s criminal justice system, but one policy in particular has caught the eye and the ire of prosecutors: the elimination of cash bail. Proponents say ending cash bail bonds will get rid of inequities that favor the rich; opponents say it will lead to a rise in crime. What does the fight over cash bail in Illinois tell us about criminal justice in America?
References:
Season 4 of WBEZ’s Motive podcast
Safe-T Act and cash bail goes before Illinois Supreme Court | WBEZ Chicago
The Chicago Community Bond Fund
I Was Locked Away from My Children for 14 Months Because I Couldn't Make Bail
The Lifeline and 988
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Lavette Mayes
Shannon Heffernan (@shannon_h)
Insha Rahman
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Sofi LaLonde, producer
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A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts
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Why Illinois wants to end cash bail | Explain It to Me podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast
