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HomeHappening NowMeet the violent criminals roaming the streets of Illinois thanks to the...

Meet the violent criminals roaming the streets of Illinois thanks to the state’s cash bail ban

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Governor Pritzker Said Abolishing Cash Bail Would Bring A ‘Fairer, Fairer Illinois’

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (Wikimedia Commons)

Suspects accused of violent crimes, some with extensive criminal records, now walk the streets of Illinois as they await trial thanks to a liberal law that ended cash bail in the state, a Washington Free Beacon review found.

After that law went into effect in mid-September, a number of violent detainees who would otherwise have remained behind bars were released without bail. An Illinois man whose rap sheet includes 15 arrests has been released after he allegedly bit a police officer and crushed his testicles. Another man, already on probation for armed robbery, avoided remand after allegedly breaking into a luxury store. A third woman was released after she appeared to attack four Chicago police officers; the woman’s release came on the first day the state’s bail reform law went into effect.

The releases offer a window into the state’s impact SAFE-T Act, which was approved in 2021, but faced a series of legal challenges before it took effect earlier this month. While many liberal cities have enacted policies to reduce cash bail, Illinois is the first state to abolish it. Of 102 county prosecutors, 100 opposed the Law Many of those prosecutors criticized the state’s liberal legislature for imposing measures in localities where law enforcement officials oppose ending cash bail.

“Unfortunately, the citizens of Illinois who are the sovereign authority were not consulted in this important matter,” said Will County Prosecutor James Glasgow. said after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of the constitutionality of the bail reform law. “I will continue to fulfill my oath of office to the best of my ability, and I pray to God that prosecutors and law enforcement continue to be able to adequately address violent crime and keep our communities safe given the severe limitations imposed in our communities. all our agencies for the act.”

Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who hailed the “historic” statute as a critical step toward a “more equitable and just” Illinois, did not return a request for comment.

One of the suspects released, Nicholas Koczor, was charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer. Koczor also faces charges of telephone harassment after prosecutors say he left a voicemail message for his girlfriend that implied he might dismember her body. Koczor was arrested for the alleged crimes in 2022 and remained in jail after failing to post bail. However, once the SAFE-T Act went into effect, Koczor petitioned for his release.

Terry Johnson, who was already on probation for armed robbery and aggravated assault, was released after allegedly breaking into a high-end store. Johnson and six other suspects helped steal $68,000 in bags and other merchandise. Esmeralda Aguilar, meanwhile, allegedly assaulted four police officers in downtown Chicago, two of whom required medical attention. Cook County District Attorney Kim Foxx, who has received millions in campaign contributions from liberal billionaire George Soros, did not file a motion for detention in the case, meaning Aguilar was released immediately.

For state lawmaker John Curran (R.), Aguilar’s release shows that Illinois Democrats are “prioritizing violent criminals” over law enforcement and crime victims.

“This highlights the misplaced priorities of the Illinois criminal justice system when the prosecutor prioritizes the freedom of a violent offender over the safety of those police officers dedicated to protecting and serving our communities,” Curran said. “Is it any wonder why police recruitment is at an all-time low in this state?”

In addition to Koczor, Johnson and Aguilar, other Illinois accused of crimes were released before trial after being arrested for illegal possession of weapons and sexual abuse, among other crimes.

under the SAFE-T Act, formally known as the current Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity Act, prosecutors must justify why a suspect should be detained. Only involuntary crimes are eligible for pretrial detention, and in those cases, variables such as the defendant’s flight risk, likelihood of returning to court, and danger to the community are taken into account.

Calls to end cash bail gained momentum in Illinois and elsewhere after the death of George Floyd in 2020. Illinois Democrats began drafting the SAFE-T Act provision after Floyd’s death , when support for left-wing police reform increased. Across much of the country, however, that support has since waned as US cities experience spikes in violent crime. In the spring of 2022, for example, 65 percent of Michigan voters said oppose legislation to reduce or eliminate bail, according to poll.

The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing earlier this week on Chicago crime, which has increased in recent months. House Democrats refused to attend the hearing, calling it a political stunt, while Pritzker accused Republicans on the committee to engage in “fear and lies.”

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