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