The Illinois Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the SAFE-T Act, ending cash bail when the law goes into effect Sept. 18, will put pressure on prosecutors, judges, courts, victims and neighborhoods. Good pressure. No longer will Illinois be able to rely on the bail system to incarcerate for months those who have been arrested but not convicted. The first hearing – where prosecutors try to persuade a judge that the accused needs to stay in jail – becomes more important. Victims, often neglected under the old system, get a chance to be heard. Judges must carefully consider the risk of flight or violence. Courts will need to schedule speedy trials. Neighborhoods, where most of those awaiting trial will live instead of jail, will have to be aware, smart and compassionate. This new system could be better for everybody, but it will take work to make it work. – Fletcher Farrar, editor
This article appears in Repurposing MacMurray Hall.
