•January 20, 20201•
By Crystal Reed
NP Writer

The criminal justice reform package that was passed by the Illinois House and Senate Wednesday of last week is drawing concern from local officials. The bill which is sitting on the governor’s desk includes a complete overhaul of police certification and an effort to end cash bail.
The Senate debated the bill after 4 a.m. before it passed 32 to 23 just before 5 a.m., moving onto the House floor. The House passed the measure before noon Wednesday with the minimum 60 votes needed for approval.
According to Moultrie County State’s Attorney Tracy Weaver, in a meeting last Tuesday about the legislation, all but two state’s attorneys in Illinois opposed this legislation. “This bill, if signed into law, will have a devastating impact on criminal prosecution and deterrence of criminality in Illinois,” she said “For example, it significantly restricts the circumstance under which someone can be held on bond (renamed under the bill as “pretrial release.)”     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.