Chicago Community Bond Fund
The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus succeeded earlier this month in ushering in legislation that would, among other things, end cash bail. If signed by Governor Pritzker, Illinois would be the first state to completely end the use of money bonds.
Lavette was arrested on an aggravated battery charge five years ago, following an altercation with her then-mother-in-law. Though she was never convicted, she was jailed for more than a year and spent four months on home confinement because she could not afford to pay the $25,000 bail. As the case wore on, bail was reduced to $9,500 and was paid by the Chicago woman’s family and the Chicago Community Bond Fund.
Lead On: A city resolution
HEENA SRIVASTAVA: From The Daily Northwestern, I’m Heena Srivastava.
KALEN LUCIANO: And I’m Kalen Luciano. This is Lead On.
THOMAS SUFFREDIN: Our next item that was pulled was item A10, I think that was yours Robin, right?
ROBIN RUE SIMMONS: Yes, staff recommends City Council adopt the resolution 11-R-21 to approve the representative testing of samples for lead and copper in all nine wards. I move approval.
OTHER ALDERMEN: Second.
ROBIN RUE SIMMONS: Thank you.
HEENA SRIVASTAVA: Evanston City Council voted Monday night, January 25, to pass a resolution mandating representative water testing. This means that Evanston will now be required to collect at least three water samples to test for lead and copper from each of the city’s nine wards. 5th Ward Ald. Robin Rue Simmons spearheaded this effort.
This story is part of an ongoing Lame Duck Look Back series in which Capitol News Illinois is following up on the major bills that passed both chambers of the General Assembly in the Jan. 8-13 lame duck session. This is one of several stories examining the criminal justice reform package backed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Illinois will transition away from the use of cash bail as a determinant of pretrial detention by 2023 after lawmakers passed a wide-ranging bill reforming several aspects of the criminal justice system in the state. The legislation, which now awaits Gov. JB Pritzker s signature before it can be finalized into law, would shift Illinois pretrial detention and release system to one that is non-monetary.