No Cash Bail? Burr Ridge Officials Favor It

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge trustees are not against eliminating bail in the state's criminal justice system.

But they oppose the way the state is going about it.

Earlier this month, the Village Board voted unanimously for a resolution to recommend revising the SAFE-T Act, which Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed in early 2021. It takes effect Jan. 1.

Under the new law, judges can keep defendants in jail before trial based on their danger to society. It ends a system in which those with more money can make bail, while others cannot.

The resolution states the new law "severely limits and impairs judicial discretion." It contends the law's hurdles are too high in many cases for judges to lock up defendants before trial.

The trustees recommended the state adopt the New Jersey model of cashless bail, which they said gives judges greater power to detain people proven to be a danger to society. This reflects the advice of DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin.

The resolution also says the new law hampers police's ability to detain those accused of misdemeanors such as trespassing.

The fear is that police cannot detain trespassers, who will then continue to trespass at the same place. This provision in the law has prompted Hinsdale's village president to warn of tent cities in local parks next year.

"The State should further revise the SAFE-T Act to empower law enforcement professionals to take whatever action is necessary to protect innocent persons and property when dealing with alleged Class B and C misdemeanors," the resolution states.