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House Bill 4621 was sent to the governor's desk for signature
and would create the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services,
allowing it to provide pretrial services to circuit courts and
counties that don’t currently have pretrial services agencies.
There has been an explosion of pretrial hearings since cash bail
was eliminated with the Pretrial Fairness Act, a component of
the SAFE-T Act.
“We must ensure that every individual, regardless of background
or circumstance, is afforded the same rights and opportunities
during the pretrial phase,” said state Sen. Elgie Sims,
D-Chicago.
State Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, said the bill is in
response to the Illinois Pretrial Services Act.
“Which became effective July 1, 1987, and requires every circuit
to have a pretrial services agency,” said Slaughter.
Slaughter acknowledged during debate of the bill that the issue
of pretrial services has come into more focus with increased
numbers of people being released through the Pretrial Fairness
Act approved in 2021 as part of the SAFE-T Act. Cash bail didn't
end statewide until court cases were settled by the Illinois
Supreme Court in 2023.
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, said the system has
worked fine at the local level.
“Some of the problems I have with the bill are philosophical,”
said Windhorst. “I think these offices are better handled either
in the counties or at the circuit level.”
The measure would provide pretrial services at no additional
cost to the counties, but state taxpayers would see an increase
cost of $2.7 million initially.
The measure awaits the governor’s signature.
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