Proponents of the bill believe it will address "structural racism and classicism." | Adobe Stock
Proponents of the bill believe it will address "structural racism and classicism." | Adobe Stock
Illinois' proposed Pretrial Fairness Act by the Legislative Black Caucus has reached Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk.
The policy would remove pretrial bail for poor inmates but has raised concerns from Republicans and victims of violent crimes, WSIL News 3 reported.
Republicans have argued the act would create a ripple effect of unintended consequences and potentially harm victims and their families, WSIL News 3 reported.
Rep. David Welter (R-Morris) criticized the legislation, saying it provides protections to criminals at the detriment of victims after an incident occurred in Welter's district involving Cassandra Tanner-Miller, whose ex-husband reportedly murdered her 18-month-old son, Colton, WSIL News 3 reported.
"I beg you to actually think of all of the little kids and the women and men that are sitting there that don't have their babies anymore," Tanner-Miller told WSIL News 3. It's easy for you to sit there and sign and put a pen to paper. But, realize there are families that are going to be begging, begging for a second chance."
Advocates have said that opposition efforts to the bill are using victims of violence as "props" to mischaracterize the legislation as being too lenient towards violent offenders.
"It is incorrect that the Pretrial Fairness Act would allow 'traffic tickets' for violent crimes," Senior Policy Analyst Sarah Staudt told WSIL News 3. "Fear-mongering statements that misrepresent what's in the bill are transparent attempts to sow fear, not find solutions."
Sponsors of the legislation have added requirements for judges to review before releasing inmates, but Welter has said the bill "doesn't have teeth."
Furthermore, many have argued that the bill furthers efforts to curb structural racism in the current penal system, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation Policy Manager Madeleine Behr said.
"It is long past time that the criminal justice system learns how to accurately, fairly, and in an non-racist or classist manner, attend to the real threats that people charged with a crime do or do not pose — especially to victims of gender-based violence," Behr said, WSIL News 3 reported.
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