Why Illinois wants to end cash bail

Explain It to Me

Vox Media Podcast Network

Education, Politics, News, Society & Culture

4.4 • 7.9K Ratings

🗓️ 21 March 2023

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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 Guests: Lavette Mayes Shannon Heffernan (@shannon_h) Insha Rahman Credits: Jonquilyn Hill, host Sofi LaLonde, producer Cristian Ayala, engineer A.M. Hall, editorial director of talk podcasts Want to support The Weeds? Please consider making a donation to Vox: bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm John Quinhill and this is another episode of The Weeds.
0:07.2	So here at Vox, we work remotely and one of the cool parts about remote work when you
0:12.8	work on a policy podcast is that you get to hear about the policies that are being shaped
0:17.6	around the country where your coworkers live.
0:20.2	Like for instance, I'm in DC, which means I'm good for randomly talking about home
0:25.2	role.
0:26.4	The producer, Sophie, is based in Chicago, which means we've been hearing a lot about
0:31.7	the drama surrounding the Chicago mayoral race.
0:35.0	Lori Lightfoot has not only had trouble making friends, but she has had trouble keeping
0:40.0	friends.
0:41.5	It also means we've been hearing about state level issues too, including the states move
0:46.6	to eliminate cash bail.
0:49.1	Deputy Solisker General, Alex Himmer for the Attorney General, the governor and the legislative
0:54.0	leaders.
0:55.2	The Illinois legislature is trying to make the land of Lincoln the first state to eliminate
0:59.6	cash bail.
1:00.9	The circuit court's sweeping decision, setting aside the safety acts, pretrial release provisions
1:05.8	should be reversed for two main reasons.
1:08.5	But that's been met with opposition and now it's in the hands of the state Supreme Court.
1:13.8	My name is Jim Roe.
1:14.8	I'm the state's attorney for Cancay King County and my oath and the interest of public safety
1:21.4	compel me to contest the Defendants Act.
	...

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