[Rewind] How Ending Cash Bail Transformed Lives In Illinois

**Illinois' cash bail reform**: The state ended cash bail in 2023 with the Pretrial Fairness Act, a move that aims to address the disproportionately negative impact on Black and Brown communities and favoritism towards the wealthy.

Explore the history and impact of Illinois' decision to end cash bail statewide in 2023, featuring insights from key advocates and policymakers involved in this monumental change.

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Description: What happened when Illinois ended cash bail? As Laura’s guests explain, this deeply discriminatory and unjust system puts “a ransom on people’s heads,” disproportionately impacts Black and Brown people, and favors the wealthy who can buy their freedom while leaving the poor to languish in jail. Bail reform has faced tremendous pushback over the years, but Illinois implemented the first-of-its-kind Pretrial Fairness Act, ending cash bail statewide in 2023. The historic win didn’t happen overnight. In this episode some of those most involved explain what it took and describe the surprising results. Sharone R. Mitchell Jr., the Cook County Chief Public Defender was the lead policy expert for the Coalition to End Money Bond. Mitchell also heads the state’s largest public defender office. State Senator Robert Peters represents Illinois’ 13th District and was one of the main sponsors of the Pretrial Fairness Act. He chairs the Senate Labor Committee. Bryce Covert followed this important and under-covered story for The Nation magazine. What has Illinois to teach the nation? All that plus Laura’s commentary: Illinois has moved out of the Middle Ages. What’s holding the rest of the nation back?

Guests:

• Bryce Covert: Contributor, The Nation

• Sharone R. Mitchell Jr.: Chief Public Defender Cook County, Illinois

• Robert Peters: Illinois State Senator, 13th District

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Related Articles and Resources:

•  The Bail Project Responds to Trump’s Executive Order to End Cashless Bail, by Devon McMahon, August 25, 2025, The Bail Project

• Illinois Has Put an End to the Injustice of Cash Bail, by Bryce Covert, December 2, 2024, The Nation

• U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Releases Report:  The Civil Rights Implications of Cash Bail, by U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, January 20, 2022, USCCR.org

• Trump Targets Bail Reform, Wants to Let Rich “Buy Their Way Out of Jail”, August 26, 2025, Democracy Now!

•  Trump signs executive order to eliminate cashless bail in Washington, by Kira Lerner, August 25, 2025, The Guardian

•  Cash bail changes - 2023 - SAFE-T Act, July 2023, Illinois Legal Aid

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