Lawmakers call for changes to cashless bail as Illinois faces federal
funding loss
[September 19, 2025]
By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Statehouse Republicans are calling for reform of
the Pretrial Fairness Act as Illinois faces the potential loss of
federal money.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order last month to identify
federal funds that could be withheld from jurisdictions that eliminated
cash bail. The order directs the U.S. Attorney General to submit a list
of states and local jurisdictions that “eliminated cash bail as a
potential condition of pretrial release from custody for crimes that
pose a clear threat to public safety and order.”
The Pretrial Awareness Act took effect two years ago and ended cash bail
in Illinois.
State Rep. David Friess, R-Red Bud, said during a virtual press
conference Thursday that the law has left county clerks looking for
state money.
“The no cash bail has really hurt them financially, and there’s going to
have to be some additional funding for that if this is going to keep
up,” Friess said.
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, filed House Bill 1482 to
expand detainable offenses.
“The legislation says that a court may detain a defendant pending trial
if the defendant is charged with any felony offense, and it is alleged
that the defendant’s pretrial release poses a threat to the safety of
any person or the community,” Windhorst explained.
State Rep. Dennis Tipsword, R-Metamore, is chief deputy of the Woodford
County Sheriff’s Office.
Tipsword said law enforcement has been challenged with defendants on
pretrial release committing additional crimes.
“The increasing number of failures to appear in court are costing
taxpayers thousands of dollars along with taking officers off the
street,” Tipsword explained.
[to top of second column]
|
Illinois state Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, during floor
debate on May 29, 2025
BlueRoomStream
Tipsword said a judge was not able to detain defendant charged this
year with 21 counts of child pornography in Woodford County.
“He was prohibited from being in contact with anyone under age 18
and not allowed to use the internet. Who and what is going to
enforce these ridiculous conditions?” Tipsword asked.
Tipsword said a defendant facing more than 50 sex abuse charges was
not detained in DuPage County due to the Pretrial Awareness Act.
“This legislation has left judges powerless, with no choice but to
set dangerous criminals free with either lax conditions or
unenforceable restrictions,” Tipsword added.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued a statement on
what she called “attempts to undermine reform” and the two-year
anniversary of the Pretrial Fairness Act.
“Two years ago, Illinois was the first state to end the use of money
bond as a condition of pretrial release, and we are the only state
to have ended money bond completely. With the Pretrial Fairness Act,
we replaced a flawed and unjust system with a thoughtfully designed
pretrial system that is more fair, safe and effective,” Preckwinkle
stated.
State Rep. Tom Weber, R-Fox Lake, said Thursday that he and his GOP
colleagues introduced several pieces of legislation to ensure that
public safety and crime victims, not criminals, are the priority in
Illinois.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
