Although Paul Vallas would suggest otherwise in his recent op-ed (“Here’s how to save the SAFE-T Act from its flaws,” July 26), Cook County’s criminal court system stands ready to successfully implement the end of money bond consistent with the Pretrial Fairness Act, which Illinois’ highest court recently upheld.
Years before the ruling and the abolition of money bond set to happen on Sept. 18, Cook County led the state in confronting the historically devastating impact of basing the freedom of people awaiting their day in court on their ability to afford to pay a bond. Cook County drew national attention in 2017 by formally limiting the issuance of money bond to what defendants could reasonably afford, while at the same time providing them with effective supports to remain in their community and reliably return for their next court dates without new arrests. These experiences of mitigating the harms of wealth-based incarceration positioned Cook County well to consider and ultimately plan for the end of money bond.
Even by the time money bond was originally set to end in Illinois at the start of this year, Cook County agencies had already completed months of collaborative and strategic planning to ensure the relevant policies, procedures, staffing and resources were in place for successful implementation of these historic reforms. The monthslong delay in implementation due to the state Supreme Court’s review only strengthened Cook County’s readiness.
Immediately following the state Supreme Court’s affirmation of the constitutionality of the Pretrial Fairness Act, Cook County leaders affirmed the county’s preparedness and reiterated their commitment to seeing these reforms lawfully and effectively implemented. The state’s attorney and public defender have trained staff for months to participate in thorough detention hearings before the court, and the presiding judge overseeing the courtrooms tasked with making pretrial detention decisions is confident that they) are ready to go.
The Cook County Justice Advisory Council has contributed to the collaboration among the stakeholder agencies, which has positioned the county to ensure our court system and judges have the resources and space to make thoughtful determinations of detention based on flight risk and risk to public safety.
It has been said that “failure to prepare is preparing to fail,” but that cannot be said of Cook County when it comes to being prepared for a more just and equitable pretrial system that prioritizes safety rather than access to wealth.
— Avik Das, executive director, Cook County Justice Advisory Council
Vallas misses the whole point
Regarding Paul Vallas’ recent op-ed about the SAFE-T Act, I think he misses the main point of the law: no cash bail. It’s a nice try to sneak some cash bail back into the law through his suggested “improvements” to the law to “keep communities safe.” He suggests that Illinois “restore cash bail for some cases” so that serious and habitual criminal offenders can be denied release. The law already allows for those offenders to be denied release.
Without cash bail, a judge reviews the defendant’s criminal charges and other factors in determining whether to release or deny release.
The voters through their legislators have spoken: no cash bail. Period.
— Jessica Gerdes, Lisle
Wilson should offer specifics
In his column, Willie Wilson blames a lot of people for wealth inequality in the Black community (“Wealth inequality is a state of emergency in Black community,” July 27). While he makes recommendations of what different people should do, it is all generalized that they should take action. I agree that there is wealth inequality. This is nothing new, and everyone gives the same recommendation — that something should be done.
But Wilson and others, while giving these general recommendations, do not offer any specifics of what to do, and that is why this inequality continues. Nobody really suggests concrete projects because the problem is so difficult to solve.
I suggest that Wilson stop telling people to fix the problem in general terms. He is as informed as anybody on this issue, and he should give detailed concrete plans of what should be done.
— Harvey Margolis, Northbrook
Wilson plays blame game
As an avid reader of the Tribune, I notice the frequent columns by Willie Wilson. Every three to four weeks, the perennial candidate is given a large space to rework the same theme.
Wilson starts with a scholarly recitation of the disparities suffered by the Black citizens of Chicago including poor housing, underemployment, inadequate health care and food deserts. His solution is always the same: The Black leaders must join together to solve these problems from on high with “executive orders” and declarations of an emergency. It’s as if the problems of the last centuries could be solved with a “stroke of a pen.”
Chicagoans of all types are actively working to address many of the problems cited by Wilson. It doesn’t help to sit back and blame others.
Here’s some news for Wilson (or whoever really writes these columns): Black people are not the only poor people in town, and by the way, not all Black people have the same problems.
— Elizabeth Elsaesser, Chicago
Bipartisan effort needed
Letter writer Bruce R. Hovanec (“Edgewater plan for migrants,” July 31) makes valid points about voters who were happy to be in a sanctuary city until the time came to actually provide sanctuary. I agree with him on this “not in my backyard” attitude.
However, by blaming only the current administration, he fails to acknowledge that the problems at the border go back many years, over both Democratic and Republican administrations.
The causes for the issues are many, and the solutions are best found through bipartisan effort, not by pointing the finger at the other party.
— Matt Foster, Orland Park
Suggestion for Elon Musk
Elon Musk has suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine may be responsible for college basketball player Bronny James’ heart incident.
Given that others have experienced heart incidents pre-COVID-19, it may motivate Musk to invest his considerable resources in an investigation of the myocarditis dangers in basketball.
— Bob Quitter, Plainfield
Join the conversation in our Letters to the Editor Facebook group.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
