Preckwinkle and her allies called for a public hearing next month to explore the issue, contending unnecessary incarceration wasted taxpayer money and needlessly kept in jail those who simply could not afford their bail.
In an unusual move, the commissioners cited a recently filed lawsuit that seeks to force the Circuit Court to release more defendants without requiring them to post a bond, claiming the current practices result in unconstitutional discrimination against poor, largely minority criminal defendants. The suit sued five Circuit Court judges and Sheriff Tom Dart.
"I usually say that jails in this country ... are at the intersection of race and poverty," Preckwinkle said.
CLICK FOR MORE
Posts
