Illinois Ends Cash Bail: What the Nation Can Learn from This Historic Win

**Historic Change in Illinois: Cash Bail Eliminated Statewide**  Explore the implications of the groundbreaking Pretrial Fairness Act as experts discuss its impact on racial equity and justice reform.

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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?

“I do think that there has been a severe backlash to the Black Lives Matter movement, to criminal justice reform that's pretty nationwide . . . That said, Illinois is out there doing this, and I think people are taking note . . . So as long as this stays in place and we have good data about the outcomes and people keep supporting it and don't give into the opposition that wants to push to roll it back, then we will have proof that this can happen, that this can work.” - Bryce Covert

“Literally the hardest job I had was talking to mothers and grandmothers and partners about whether they should be paying this a thousand dollars for bond or a thousand dollars for rent. We were forcibly extracting money out of the people that needed it the most. And I'm so glad that we are now in a system where we realized that we can make these really important decisions without quite frankly putting ransoms on people's heads.” - Sharone R. Mitchell Jr.

". . . The president was involved in criminal behavior. Rudy Giuliani was involved in criminal behavior. They had no problem being able to either pay out or pay within the legal system. Working class people on the other hand, many of them who are innocent, many of them who are just trying to live their life or trying to move on, they can't. A billionaire who's able to game the court system and be able to get out has no business trying to lecture the working class of this country.” - Robert Peters

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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Music In the Middle:  Eric Kupper remix of “U Try Livin’” by Black Guy, White Guy and 808 Beach from the Red Hot and Free project released by the Red Hot Organization.  And additional music included- "Steppin"  by Podington Bear.

Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:

•  Corporate Prison Reform Will Not Keep Us Safe: A Report from Los Angeles: Watch / Listen: Podcast Episode

• Crime & Migration: An Abolitionist Plan for Immigration Justice: Watch / Listen: Podcast Episode

• D.A. Larry Krasner Facing Impeachment: Criminal Justice Reform in the Crosshairs: Watch / Listen: Podcast Episode

Related Articles and Resources:

• 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

• Cash bail disproportionately impacts communities of color.  Illinois is the first state to abolish it. By Claire Savage and Corey Williams, September 12, 2023, AP News

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