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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN SUPPORT OF DR. WILLIE WILSON AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT PUBLIC-PRIVATE FUND TO PAY THE BOND FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND SUPPORT THEIR REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, Dr. Willie Wilson bailed out six non-violent detainees from the Cook County Jail in September of 2016; and,
WHEREAS, those six individuals were being held for minor offenses and could not make bail, meaning they would have remained in the Cook County Jail until their trial ended; and,
WHEREAS, in November of 2016, Dr. Wilson plans to use $100,000 of his own money to bail out non-violent offenders so they will be able to spend this Thanksgiving with their families; and,
WHEREAS, this is the latest in a long line of philanthropic efforts Dr. Wilson has made to improve life for Chicagoans; and,
WHEREAS, Cook County Corrections facilities currently hold in excess of 300 inmates who are only incarcerated because they cannot afford to pay their bond; and,
WHEREAS, the bond amount for the aforementioned individuals is $1,000.00 or less; and,
WHEREAS, approximately 55 percent of these individuals are currently being held on misdemeanor charges that carry a maximum imprisonment penalty of 364 days in a County Detention Facility; and,
WHEREAS, Dr. Wilson's selfless act in September of 2016 has saved taxpayers thousands of dollars, and his similarly planned initiative for Thanksgiving will save much more; and,
WHEREAS, Dr. Wilson serves as an outstanding mentor for formerly incarcerated individuals, as he has come from humble roots to build a multi-million dollar business; and,
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners ought to follow in Dr. Wilson's footsteps and advocate with haste for bail reform that will enable low-level detainees to not waste their lives in the Cook County Jail as they await trial;
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, that the President of the Cook County Board and the Cook County Board of Commissioners support the efforts...
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