Dispelling Myths: The Pretrial Fairness Act and Domestic Violence

In January 2021, the Illinois General Assembly passed a sweeping criminal justice reform package, presented by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, which includes the Pretrial Fairness Act (HB 3653 SFA2). The Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) abolishes money bail; ensures faster release f...
February 16, 2021

Letter to Governor Pritzker: Support for HB 3653

On January 13, 2021, the Illinois General Assembly passed a historic criminal justice reform package (presented by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus). Among the many provisions in the 764 page bill is the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) - a comprehensive proposal that ends money bail, reduce...
February 9, 2021

What might “Civilian Oversight” of the Chicago Police Department look like?

Published: January 19, 2021 The Chicago Police Department has been the subject of various concerns for decades; in 2016, a Police Accountability Task Force report exposed major flaws in the policing system, such as racist and biased tactics, gaps in accountability, rampant misconduct, poor co...
January 19, 2021

VICTORY: Illinois Just Passed the Pretrial Fairness Act and Ended Money Bail

After years of advocacy by the Coalition to End Money Bond - including Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers - and thousands of other organizers across the state, the Illinois Legislature just became the first in the nation to abolish money bail by passing HB 3653 SFA2. Once Governor...
January 13, 2021