Statement from Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on Passage of Historic Criminal Justice Reform Legislation, Illinois House Bill 3653:

As Bryan Stevenson has said, “Our criminal justice system treats you better if you are rich and guilty than it does if you are innocent and poor.” Eliminating cash bail ends the practice of detaining non-violent offenders simply because they are poor while also preventing violent offenders from being released because they can afford bail. Additionally, this legislation implements increased standards of police accountability and helps to rebuild public trust in the system. I’m grateful for the legislators, advocates and community members who went from “protest to progress.” There’s still work to do, but this is a step in the right direction.