{"id":2051977,"date":"2023-10-02T05:08:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T09:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/meet-the-violent-criminals-roaming-the-illinois-streets-thanks-to-states-cash-bail-ban\/"},"modified":"2023-10-02T05:11:33","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T09:11:33","slug":"meet-the-violent-criminals-roaming-the-illinois-streets-thanks-to-states-cash-bail-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/meet-the-violent-criminals-roaming-the-illinois-streets-thanks-to-states-cash-bail-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing Illinois&#8217; Street Criminals Set Free Due to Bail Ban"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmeet-the-violent-criminals-roaming-the-illinois-streets-thanks-to-states-cash-bail-ban%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2051977&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Dem governor Pritzker said abolition of cash bail would bring a &#8216;more equitable and just Illinois&#8217;<\/h2>\n<figure><figcaption>Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (Wikimedia Commons)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p>Suspects accused of violent felonies, some with \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/baltimore-police-officer-keona-holley-dies-a-week-after-being-shot-while-sitting-in-patrol-vehicle\/\" title=\"Baltimore Police Officer Keona Holley Dies a Week After Being Shot While Sitting in Patrol Vehicle\">extensive criminal records<\/a>, are now roaming the streets of Illinois\u2063 as they \u200cawait\u2064 trial thanks to a liberal law that \u2062ended cash \u200cbail in \u200dthe state, a <em>Washington Free Beacon<\/em> review found.<\/p>\n<p>After \u200bthat law went into effect mid-September, an array \u2064of\u200d violent arrestees who may have otherwise remained behind bars\u200b were released from \u200bcustody without bail. One\u200b Illinois man, whose rap sheet includes 15 arrests, was released after he allegedly bit a police \u2062officer and squeezed the \u200bofficer&#8217;s testicles. Another man, who was already on parole for armed\u200b robbery, avoided pretrial detention after allegedly breaking into a high-end boutique. A\u2062 third woman was released\u200c from custody\u200c after\u2062 she appeared \u2064to attack \u200cfour Chicago police officers\u2014the woman&#8217;s release \u2063came on the first day the state&#8217;s bail reform\u200c law\u2062 went into effect.<\/p>\n<p>The releases provide a window into \u200cthe impact \u2064of the state&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/icjia.illinois.gov\/researchhub\/articles\/the-2021-safe-t-act-icjia-roles-and-responsibilities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SAFE-T Act<\/a>, which passed in 2021 but faced an array of \u2063legal challenges before it went into effect earlier\u200b this month. While\u2063 many liberal cities have enacted policies to scale back cash bail, Illinois is the first state \u200bto abolish it. Out of 102 county prosecutors, 100 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/top-democratic-prosecutors-revolt-against-criminal-justice-reform-law-destroy-illinois\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opposed<\/a> the\u2063 law.\u200b Many of those prosecutors blasted the \u2064state&#8217;s liberal legislature for\u2063 imposing measures on localities where law enforcement officials oppose\u2062 an end \u200bto cash\u200d bail.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Unfortunately, the \u200dcitizens of Illinois who are the sovereign authority were not consulted in this significant matter,&#8221; Will County\u200b prosecutor James\u200b Glasgow <a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/illinois-supreme-court-safe-t-act-ruling-safe-t-2023-cash-bail\/13518009\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> after the Illinois Supreme\u2064 Court ruled in favor of the bail reform law&#8217;s constitutionality. &#8220;I will \u2063continue \u200dto fulfill the oath of office to the\u200c best of my ability, and\u2063 I\u2062 pray to \u200bGod\u2064 that prosecutors and law enforcement will continue to be able to\u200c properly address violent\u200d crime\u2062 and maintain \u200dthe safety of our communities\u200d given \u200dthe\u2063 serious limitations placed on all \u200bour agencies by the act.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Illinois \u200dDemocratic governor J.B.\u200b Pritzker, who <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.illinois.gov\/news\/press-release.26729.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hailed<\/a> the &#8220;historic&#8221; statute as a\u200c critical\u200c step toward a &#8220;more equitable and just Illinois,&#8221; did not return a request\u2063 for comment.<\/p>\n<p>One of\u200b the released suspects, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lakemchenryscanner.com\/2023\/09\/25\/safe-t-act-failure-mchenry-county-states-attorney-says-man-accused-of-attacking-officers-threatening-woman-released-from-jail\/?utm_source=dlvr.it&#038;utm_medium=twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nicholas\u200c Koczor<\/a>,\u2064 was\u200d charged with three \u200bcounts \u200cof aggravated \u200dbattery to a\u2064 peace \u2063officer. Koczor \u200balso faces phone harassment charges \u200dafter prosecutors said he left his girlfriend \u2063a voicemail that\u2064 implied he could dismember her body. Koczor was arrested for the alleged offenses in 2022 and remained in jail after\u2063 failing to post\u200d bond. \u2063Once the SAFE-T Act went \u200binto effect, however, Koczor filed\u2063 a petition for his release.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/patch.com\/illinois\/hinsdale\/prosecutor-blasts-hinsdale-burglary-suspects-release\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Terry Johnson<\/a>,\u2062 who was already\u200c on \u200cparole for armed robbery and aggravated battery, \u200bwas \u2063released after allegedly breaking into \u200ba high-end boutique. Johnson and six other suspects helped \u2062steal $68,000 worth \u200bof purses and other merchandise.\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox32chicago.com\/news\/cook-county-woman-no-cash-bail-release-chicago-cops-attack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Esmeralda Aguilar<\/a>,\u2064 meanwhile, allegedly battered four police officers in downtown Chicago, two of whom required medical attention. Cook County prosecutor Kim Foxx, who has received millions in campaign contributions \u2064from liberal billionaire George Soros, failed to file a \u200ddetention motion\u200d in the case, meaning Aguilar was immediately released.<\/p>\n<p>For\u2064 state lawmaker John Curran (R.), Aguilar&#8217;s release shows that Illinois Democrats are &#8220;prioritizing violent offenders&#8221; \u2064over law enforcement and victims of\u200d crime.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This highlights the misplaced priorities of Illinois&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/president-trump-please-pardon-jon-woods-a-victim-of-process-crimes-like-michael-flynn\/\" title=\"President Trump, Please Pardon Jon Woods, a Victim of Process Crimes Like Michael Flynn\">criminal justice system<\/a> when the prosecutor \u200cprioritizes the freedom of a violent offender over the safety of those police officers dedicated to protecting and serving our communities,&#8221; Curran said. &#8220;Is\u200b there any \u2062wonder\u2063 why police\u2062 recruitment is \u2062at an all-time low in this state?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In\u200d addition to\u2064 Koczor, Johnson,\u2062 and Aguilar,\u200c other Illinois <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetelegraph.com\/news\/article\/madison-county-detains-first-defendant-new-safe-t-18377643.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">felony\u2064 defendants<\/a> were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.25newsnow.com\/2023\/09\/19\/police-morton-man-arrested-connection-with-sexual-abuse-woman-east-peoria\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">released before trial<\/a> after being\u200d arrested for unlawful weapon possession and sexual abuse, \u2062among other crimes.<\/p>\n<p>Under\u2063 the <a href=\"https:\/\/icjia.illinois.gov\/researchhub\/articles\/the-2021-safe-t-act-icjia-roles-and-responsibilities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SAFE-T Act<\/a>, formally known \u200cas the Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today Act, prosecutors must make the case for \u2062why a suspect should be held\u200d in custody. Only\u2064 forcible felonies qualify\u200b for pre-trial detention, \u2063and in those cases, \u2062variables such as the defendant\u2019s flight risk, the\u2062 likelihood they will return to court, and their danger to the community are \u2063considered.<\/p>\n<p>Calls to end cash bail gained momentum in Illinois and elsewhere following George Floyd&#8217;s death in 2020. Illinois \u200cDemocrats started drafting the SAFE-T Act&#8217;s provision following Floyd&#8217;s death, when support for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/meet-the-violent-criminals-roaming-the-illinois-streets-thanks-to-states-cash-bail-ban\/\" title=\"Introducing Illinois' Street Criminals Set Free Due to Bail Ban\">left-wing police reform increased<\/a>. In much of the\u2064 country, \u2063however, that support has since waned as U.S. cities experience spikes in violent crime. In the\u2063 spring of 2022, for example, 65 \u2064percent of Michigan voters <a href=\"https:\/\/ambailcoalition.org\/poll-voters-universally-reject-bail-reform-call-for-higher-bails-in-violent-offenders-as-primaries-and-midterms-loom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> they oppose legislation to lower or eliminate bail bonds, according to \u2062a poll.<\/p>\n<p>The House Judiciary \u200bCommittee earlier this week held a hearing\u200d on Chicago crime, which has <a href=\"https:\/\/wirepoints.org\/38-jump-in-chicago-crime-during-mayor-johnsons-first-month-wirepoints\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spiked in recent months<\/a>. House Democrats declined to attend the hearing, blasting it as a political stunt, \u2062while Pritzker <a href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/politics\/2023\/9\/25\/23889607\/danny-davis-republican-forum-chicago-crime-kim-foxx-government-shutdown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">accused<\/a> the committee&#8217;s Republicans of engaging\u2063 in &#8220;fearmongering and lies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2>And has \u200dsparked intense debate\u200c and controversy. One question that arises is how will the abolition of\u2063 cash bail impact the ability of prosecutors to effectively address and \u200bdeter violent crime? Another question to consider is what safeguards are in place\u200b to ensure the safety of the community if individuals charged with serious offenses are released without bail?\u2062 Lastly, what steps can\u200d be\u200c taken to strike a\u200c balance between \u2064the\u2063 rights of defendants and the protection of public safety in the context \u200cof pretrial release<\/h2>\n<p><span>  E \u200ctrial due to the abolition of cash bail. In one case, \u200da man accused of\u200c sexually abusing \u200ca woman\u200d in East Peoria was\u2064 released without bail. Another defendant, from \u200dMadison County, was also released after being \u2063charged with a violent crime. These cases raise concerns about public safety and the potential for repeat\u2063 offenses by \u200dindividuals who are now free\u2063 to roam the streets while awaiting trial.<\/p>\n<p>The implementation \u200dof the SAFE-T \u200cAct in Illinois has been the\u200d subject of legal challenges and opposition from law enforcement officials. Many prosecutors have expressed \u2063their \u2064concerns about the \u2062impact of\u2062 ending cash bail, \u200carguing that it undermines their ability to properly \u2062address violent crime\u2062 and ensure community safety. The decision to abolish cash bail was made without consulting the citizens of Illinois, which has further exacerbated the controversy surrounding the law.<\/p>\n<p>Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, \u2063has hailed the\u2063 SAFE-T Act as \u200ba significant step towards a more equitable and \u200cjust Illinois. \u2064However, the releases of individuals with extensive criminal records and charged\u200d with violent offenses have\u200c raised questions about the effectiveness and consequences of this reform. Critics argue that the law prioritizes the freedom of violent offenders over the safety of law enforcement officials and the general public.<\/p>\n<p>The cases of Nicholas Koczor, Terry Johnson, and Esmeralda Aguilar illustrate the potential risks associated\u2063 with\u2064 the abolition of cash bail. These individuals, who were already facing serious charges, were released without any monetary conditions. This sends a concerning message to both law \u200cenforcement and victims of crime, as it suggests that the state&#8217;s \u2062criminal justice system is \u2064prioritizing the rights \u200dof offenders over the safety of the community.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, the release of these individuals without bail raises concerns about \u200bthe\u200d potential for repeat offenses. Without any financial obligations or consequences, defendants may be more likely to engage in criminal activities \u200bwhile awaiting trial. This puts the public at risk and undermines the goal of maintaining law and order in society.<\/p>\n<p>The SAFE-T Act represents a significant change in the Illinois criminal justice system<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Governor Pritzker believes eliminating cash bail will create a fairer Illinois. However, due to this liberal law, individuals charged with violent crimes, including those with prior convictions, are currently free on the streets while awaiting trial in Illinois.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2360,"featured_media":2051978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2051977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2051977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2360"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2051977"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2051977\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2051978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2051977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2051977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2051977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}