* Last month, the Naperville City Council rejected a resolution calling on the governor to veto the criminal justice bill. Then the DuPage County Board voted to indefinitely postpone debate on a similar resolution. But, goshdarnit, the Naperville Park District Board is demanding to be heard…

The Naperville Park Board wants Gov. J.B. Pritzker to veto statewide criminal justice reforms approved by the previous Illinois General Assembly because of the effect they will have on the park district’s police officers and others across the state.

Board members unanimously approved a resolution that says the proposed legislative changes pose a “substantial danger” to the 23 part-time and two full-time park officers employed by the park district. […]

Leaders call out others, and a bill of this magnitude approved in the middle of the night without debate and serious discussion is wrong, Janor said.

“If the Naperville Park District ever attempted to pull shenanigans like this, our constituents would be outraged and justifiably so,” he said.

The park board sued the governor last May, arguing that it ought to decide when to reopen, not the governor. A local judge denied the request for a TRO and the board eventually dropped the suit.

Also, the House Speaker and every chair of his approps committees strongly supported that bill, and the new Senate Appropriations Chair Elgie Sims was its principle sponsor. Local governments that make wild accusations about this bill probably ought to keep that in mind, particularly since the state is in a budget bind these days.

* And Sen. Sims also pushed back on the process complaints…

Sims said he’s willing to entertain input despite the “fear-mongering” spread by the critical groups who contend they were left out of discussions on the legislation and complain about its Senate approval just before dawn on Jan. 13, the last day of the previous legislative session

“That’s what’s the most disturbing about the discussion of the process,” Sims countered. “The bill passed when it did because we continued to negotiate (with those groups) until the very end.”

* Let’s move on to cash bail. Some Illinois numbers…

Pretrial detention in jails has also swollen the state’s incarcerated population–even as the prison population has fallen. According to the Vera Institute, the state’s jail population has shot up 5 percent since 2000, while the prison population has dropped 12 percent. Pretrial detention accounted for 71 percent of the state’s jail population in 2015.

* From Judge Robbin Stuckert, who chairs the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices…

Comprehensive, sustainable reform takes courage, patience, diligence and faith. Building upon the Bail Reform Act of 2017, the General Assembly recently passed additional reforms of the State’s pretrial detention system. Importantly, the legislation includes a delayed effective date on many of its key provisions. This additional time will be critical to establish an effective statewide pretrial system to support these changes and ensure that individuals who pose a threat to public safety are detained pretrial.

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices recognizes that for far too long our criminal justice system has criminalized poverty by often detaining low level, non-violent offenders simply because they cannot afford bail. A large percentage of accused persons who enter the criminal justice system are indigent, facing economic obstacles. The General Assembly is commended for addressing these difficult issues. […]

Going forward, the Supreme Court has directed the Task Force to assume a leadership role regarding the implementation of this historic and courageous legislation. We will prepare guidance and training on the bill’s pretrial provisions and will identify areas in the bill for which amendatory language must be considered.

We look forward to continued dialogue with the legislative authors and we will work tirelessly to ensure comprehensive and sustainable pretrial reform is implemented throughout Illinois.

* Public Radio on cash bail…

The bill, which would take effect in January 2023, if signed, offers dozens of charges that could compel a judge to detain the accused: first-degree murder, arson, gun-related offenses, sexual assaults and domestic violence and other crimes.

One of the changes that advocates for the legislation tout is that the measure also creates a risk-assessment tool to help a judge determine whether someone should be detained or released.

“We can track the outcome of what happens in bond court, what happens with jail decisions so we can make better decisions about how we should move forward when it comes to pretrial, said Sharone Mitchell, director of the Illinois Justice Project. The group is part of a coalition that advocated for the end of cash bail.

Mitchell says the bill maps the process for determining whether somebody will be detained. “In the status quo, we have like a patchwork of laws, some of them contradict each other.”

I asked Mitchell about the contradicting statutes. He pointed me to People v. Gil, which, he explained, tries to parse out how someone is held without bond and points out contradictions between 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1 and 4(a) of that statute.

* But this is coming at a time of increased violent crime, making it tougher for proponents…

Chicago is off to another violent start to a new year with 51 homicides in January, the most slayings recorded for the month in five years.

* And…

Nearly 80 organizations have joined a chorus of calls that the head of the Chicago police union be fired over allegations he made racist remarks in a series of social media posts. […]

When reached Monday about the letter, Catanzara was unbowed, saying he will continue to represent the FOP members. He urged the organizations to focus on efforts to address Chicago’s escalating violence, including carjackings and homicides.

“Maybe they should worry about things like that,” he said. “Crime that really matters.”