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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 of Dr. Willie Wilson to mitigate the worst impacts of excessive bail bond fees; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President of the Cook County Board and the Board of Commissioners do call upon the General Assembly of the State of Illinois to enact reforms that provide greater systemic flexibility and the opportunity for the reduction of bail in the cases of indigent inmates.
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