File #: 16-6051    Version: Name: CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON MONETARY BOND
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
File created: 10/20/2016 In control: Criminal Justice Committee
On agenda: 10/26/2016 Final action: 11/21/2018
Title: PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO FILE 16-6051 PROPOSED RESOLUTION RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON PRE-TRIAL DETENTION AND THE OPERATION OF BOND COURT WHEREAS, Illinois' Bail Statute, 725 ILCS 5/110-1, et seq, mandates that the amount of bail shall be considerate of the financial ability of the accused; and WHEREAS, a class action lawsuit was filed on October 14, 2016 alleging that release-eligible arrestees are detained pretrial at Cook County jail solely because they are unable to pay the amount of money fixed as a financial condition of their release; and WHEREAS, the class action lawsuit also alleges that reliance on monetary bond results in a disparate impact on African Americans that constitutes illegal race discrimination in violation of the Illinois Civil Rights Act; and WHEREAS, Cook County jail receives over 70,000 admissions every year; and WHEREAS, 8,248 individuals were being detained at Cook County Jail as of October 17, 2016; and WHEREAS, Cook County spends $330 ...
Sponsors: JESÚS G. GARCÍA, LUIS ARROYO JR, RICHARD R. BOYKIN, JOHN A. FRITCHEY, LARRY SUFFREDIN, PETER N. SILVESTRI
title

PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO FILE 16-6051

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON PRE-TRIAL DETENTION AND THE OPERATION OF BOND COURT

WHEREAS, Illinois' Bail Statute, 725 ILCS 5/110-1, et seq, mandates that the amount of bail shall be considerate of the financial ability of the accused; and

WHEREAS, a class action lawsuit was filed on October 14, 2016 alleging that release-eligible arrestees are detained pretrial at Cook County jail solely because they are unable to pay the amount of money fixed as a financial condition of their release; and

WHEREAS, the class action lawsuit also alleges that reliance on monetary bond results in a disparate impact on African Americans that constitutes illegal race discrimination in violation of the Illinois Civil Rights Act; and

WHEREAS, Cook County jail receives over 70,000 admissions every year; and

WHEREAS, 8,248 individuals were being detained at Cook County Jail as of October 17, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Cook County spends $330 million yearly to maintain jail operations; and

WHEREAS, approximately 90% of those detained in Cook County jail have not yet been convicted of a crime and are awaiting a trial; and

WHEREAS, the average length of stay in Cook County jail is 59 days; and

WHEREAS, 271 individuals were detained solely due to their inability to post a bond of $1,000 or less as of October 17, 2016; and

WHEREAS, 1,024 "turnarounds" were held in Cook County jail last year - individuals who spent so much time in custody that, once they were sentenced to state prison, they already had served every day of their prison sentence, on average each serving 21/2 months of extra time; and

WHEREAS, a 2013 evaluation of Cook County Criminal justice data showed that 63% of detainees are unable to post bond; and

WHEREAS, Cook County spends an estimated $143 per day to house the average pre-trial detainee in Cook County jail, with higher costs associated with detaining individuals requiring mental health tr...

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