Illinois , Poised to Enact , Sweeping Bail Reform .<br />On January 1, Illinois will become <br />the first state to completely <br />eliminate cash bail. .<br />ABC reports that the closely-watched <br />move to advance racial justice has also <br />raised concerns for public safety.<br />Last year, Illinois lawmakers passed <br />a sweeping overhaul of the state's <br />criminal justice system.<br />The SAFE-T Act included drastic changes <br />to pretrial detainment protocols. .<br />According to the legislation, presumption <br />of release becomes the default, ending any <br />financial considerations for being released. .<br />The use of money as a determining <br />factor in whether somebody is going <br />to be in or out of jail before trial <br />is really just an abhorrent practice, Sharone Mitchell, Cook County Public Defender, via ABC.<br />ABC reports that judges will now carry <br />the primary responsibility of deciding <br />who is detained before a trial.<br />Under the new legislation, judges can only require detention if the state can prove that a defendant , "poses a specific, real and present threat to <br />a person, or has a high likelihood of flight." .<br />In each individual case, we will now <br />have an opportunity to make a better <br />decision as a system, along with returning <br />those dollars to communities that are <br />desperate to retain other things <br />to keep them safe and healthy, Sharone Mitchell, Cook County Public Defender, via ABC.<br />According to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, <br />over 60% of defendants in U.S. jails are eligible for <br />release but held in custody because they can't afford bail
