By Bill Cameron, WLS-AM News
(CHICAGO) There’s a new push underway to let poor people accused of non-violent crimes to be let out on bail at little or no cost.
The idea is to save taxpayers millions on jail space, but even one of the backers, Cook County Board member John Fritchey, says judges are against this.
“I mean, let’s be honest. A lot of the judges, understandably perhaps, are worried about being the Willie Horton judge,” Fritchey said. “They are worried about letting a non violent offender out or a violent offender out, which is not what we’re talking about. But somebody who is out on bond who commits a crime while they are out and then everybody says how did this person get out?”
But there is a lawsuit pending that argues monetary bail on poor people is unconstitutional.
William Horton is a convicted felon who while serving a life sentence for murder participated in a Massachusetts weekend furlough program. He did not return from his furlough, and committed assault, armed robbery, and rape.
@ 2016 WLS-AM News
