(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Gov. JB Pritzker weighed in on the legal battle over Illinois’ cash bail system Wednesday, saying he’s “disappointed” by the delay of its abolishment.
Over the weekend, a Kankakee judge found parts of the Pretrial Fairness Act, which is part of the SAFE-T Act and eliminates cash bail in Illinois, were unconstitutional.
“Justice shouldn't be delayed,” Prizkter told reporters at a public event at the Carole Robertson Center for Learning. “We want our neighborhoods to be safer, and putting the Pretrial Fairness Act into effect will make our neighborhoods safer.”
Pritzker noted the end to cash bail is as much about safety as it is fairness.
“In my view, someone who's wealthier shouldn't just be able to buy their way out of jail when they've committed a violent crime, when someone who's poor and hasn't committed a violent crime will sit in jail.”
Pritzker expects the legal challenge to be resolved by the Illinois Supreme Court in the coming months, saying he’s “comfortable and confident” the measure is constitutional.
Other pieces of the SAFE-T Act already in effect include new requirements for body cameras and other police reforms.
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