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Illinois Abolishes Cash Bail: Safety Debate Intensifies

10/6/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Illinois became the first state to abolish cash bail in 2021 with the Pretrial Fairness Act, effective September 2023.
The reform shifts from bail payments to risk-based assessments of defendants' public-safety risk.
Critics, including Trump, say it undermines public safety; advocates argue it protects vulnerable populations.
Studies show no increase in violent crime post-reform; property crimes rose slightly.

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Story summary

Illinois became the first state to abolish cash bail in 2021 with the Pretrial Fairness Act, effective September 2023.
The reform shifts from bail payments to risk-based assessments of defendants' public-safety risk.
Critics, including Trump, say it undermines public safety; advocates argue it protects vulnerable populations.
Studies show no increase in violent crime post-reform; property crimes rose slightly.