Roll call and the minutes from the 5/16/24 have been approved.

Jason Huff the Chair announces that the 2023-2024 8th District Community Feedback Report is now available for review

More photos.

Mr. Ben Redel director of criminal justice policy of the ACLU for Illinois speaks about the Pretrial Fairness Act.

The flyer talks about the accomplishments of the Pretrial Fairness Act.

Mr. Redel states the previous system “punished people for being poor.”

Mr. Redel also states that under the previous system one night in jail could “destabilize people’s lives” due to risk of job loss and higher risk of re-arrest. The new system “focuses the court” on high risk persons who might flee or do harm to others.

Mr. Redel says the point of the pretrial fairness act has reduced the jail populations reduced and the crime has not gone up.

The floor is now open to questions. The chair Mr. Huff asks who is the agency that determines the data and that the fairness act is a success. Mr. Redel says it’s from studies that have been done in other jurisdictions. See #9 of the flier.

Mr. Redel does admit the courts have been slow to conduct and release data, but it is progressing.

Albert Cacciottolo asks about the data for reoffend. A resident speaks up about the data. He lists several persons who go on to reoffend violently and nonviolently. He asks who speaks for the victims and says the Act “has no benefit to me.”

Mr. Redel says 90% of people released don’t go on to commit crimes. He asks the resident if all those people should be in jail and the resident confirms because those people are not committing crimes.

Mr. Redel again says that when there is a over correction with jails it destabilizes communities and causes more crime.

Mark Hamberlin, of Community Engagement, agrees with the resident. He recalls a man who is a “menace to society.” He has carjacked several times and has been released several times. Mr. Hamberlin believes these criminals should fall on the judge.

Mr. Redel responds that car jacking is a “detainable offense.” Mr. Hamberlin responds the offender wasn’t detained, instead he was walking the street and something must be done.

Mr Albert Cacciottolo asks if reoffenders can be let out sue to the Pretrial Fairness Act? Mr. Redel says it depends. Mr. Cacciottolo says “that’s wrong.”

Mr Cacciottolo says the Pretrial Fairness Act a “get out of jail free card.” Mr Redel says they can be charged with violating the Act and charged with a new crime and be sent to jail for the duration of their Pretrial release. He admits reoffenders can be released.

Mr. Cacciottolo says why can’t offenders be told if they reoffend they’ll go to jail. Mr. Tender says it’s the “judges’s job.” Mr. Cacciottolo says why can’t the legislature put that in the Act. Mr Redel says that would be difficult to “legislate outcomes.”

Mr. Redel continues that legislating outcomes is how America got “mandatory minimums that give us mass incarceration because the legislature’s substituting their judgement for judges that listen to the facts…and lay out an appropriate sentence.”

Mr. Redel continues, “we get into a lot of trouble when legislators in politically charged environments” demand harsh sentences “because it’s an election year.”

Mr. Huff says that people don’t mind when low level offenders are released. It’s the high-level offenders. Mr. Huff asked what can be done to hold judges and legislators accountable while people “hold the police to such high standards?”
“Voters,” says Mr. Rendel.

A female resident mentions there is a report that comes out during the election year and that’s one way for voters to hold judges, sheriffs, and attorney general accountable.
Mr. Cacciottolo agrees and says the goal should be to “get that out to the voters.”

After another call for public comments the meeting was called to adjourn at 7:40pm by Chairman Huff.

The next meeting will be on July 18th, 2024 at 6:30pm. The next guest speaker will have a presentation about Shot Spotter.

Please find the streaming link to the meeting here: