Illinois Became The First State To Fully Abolish Cash Bail, Here’s What That Means
By Jessica Washington Criminal justice advocates in Illinois are celebrating a major victory this week. On Monday, Illinois became the first state to fully abolish the cash bail system, meaning defendants will no longer be held in jail because they can’t pay. The provision of the SAFE-T Act abolishing cash bail went into effect on Monday, revolutionizing the bail process state-wide. But what exactly does it mean to abolish cash bail? The Root has you covered with everything you need to know about the changes. What Is Cash Bail? Cash bail is the money a defendant is required to pay as a