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When writing about crime victims, maybe check in with groups that help those victims every day

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Illinois

* Kass’ recent column asked whether crime victims received a pen from the governor when he signed the criminal justice reform bill into law…

Pritzker said critics “don’t want any change, don’t believe there is injustice in the system and are preying upon fear of change to lie and fearmonger in defense of the status quo.”

I decided to call someone who has much more experience than Pritzker or Foxx in criminal law:

But instead of calling any legitimate groups that represent crime victims, he called a judge who retired rather than face the voters last year.

It’s a free country, but maybe if you write about crime victims you could at least briefly chat with people who run groups that help crime victims, like, for instance, the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, which, among other things, offers legal representation for sexual assault survivors.

* From a CAASE tweet thread about the column…

The pen victims got was more precious than a souvenir. It was one used to help ink this law. Survivor advocates like [the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence], [The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence] & [the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation] were at the table. Our input was based on experience that cash bail does not equal safety.

The #PretrialFairnessAct ends cash bail, replacing the practice of using wealth to determine who’s free before a trial with a system based on assessing risk. That’s particularly important to survivors of gender-based violence, who gain a stronger voice in the new process.

Releasing ppl who can pay bond w/ little regard for threat they may pose is nonsense. These reforms ensure ppl held for forcible felonies (including domestic/sexual violence) are kept up to 48 hr, providing time to determine if they’re a risk. Those who are remain detained.

Yes! IL is the 1st state to entirely end cash bail. That came about w/ support from the community of people who have survived sex crimes & domestic violence. Learn more about why we support the #PretrialFairnessAct here

* From the linked explainer…

Through our work with survivors of sexual violence, we know how the criminal legal system often fails them. That’s why we are cheering the signing of the Pretrial Fairness Act into law. It ends money bail, replacing the practice of using wealth to determine who has their freedom before a trial with a system based on assessing risk. This is particularly important to survivors of gender-based violence, who gain a stronger voice in the new process.

Survivor advocates like CAASE had a seat at the table in crafting this transformative bill. Our input was anchored in our understanding of why criminal justice reform is so important to the safety of survivors and the whole community. When it’s implemented in January 2023, people with low incomes will no longer be locked up simply because they can’t pay bail. People won’t be incarcerated pre-trial because of racist and classist stereotypes that perpetuate fear against Black men, in particular. Survivors can advocate for what they need to feel safe and secure.

These reforms are based on lessons learned from other states, with Illinois being the first to abolish cash bail with support from the community of survivors. This law empowers them to be part of the process and allows people who have caused harm to repair their lives and be restored to the community. It’s a step towards a system rooted in equity and safety, rather than fear.

In other words, dangerous people with access to money can currently avoid jail. More folks need to keep that in mind.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 1:22 pm

Comments

“In other words, dangerous people with access to money can currently avoid jail.”

** In some circumstances, people can avoid pre-trial detention by posting a cash bond against their future appearance and compliance with restrictive bond conditions.**

FTFY

Comment by Just Another Anon Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 1:28 pm
Forget it, Rich. It’s a Kass column.

Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 1:39 pm
It is Kass though. His columns are all about:

1. Madigan bad; or

2.He is very very afraid and it is all the fault of Madigan/J.B/Biden, or some random black or Hispanic member of the IL House or Senate.

It is really a shame. He puts in zero effort but still gets paid.

On a related note, on Twitter he was acting like an incident with Brendan Reilly was proof of everything he has written about Chicago and/Illinois. It is a shame that neither he nor most of readers seemed to wonder if Brendan was OK.

For those wonder, he’s doing fine.

Comment by Crash Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 1:47 pm
Kass doesn’t care about crime victims unless they give him canon fodder for another unwise column.

Comment by HL Mencken Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 1:48 pm
===…he called a judge who retired rather than face the voters last year.===

At least he quoted an actual, real person this time. Usually he just quotes the voices in his head.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 1:51 pm
This all depends on the judges doing their jobs to keep the dangerous ones off the streets.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 1:55 pm
Kass not caring about ppl and not talking to ppl who are experts just to push his narrow-minded, prejudiced, ultra-conservative world view? I’m shocked. Shocked, I tell you.

Comment by BigManOffCampus Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 1:56 pm
Haven’t judges always had the ability to deny bail to persons deemed dangerous? How does the abolishment of cash bail change this? Seems the real question here is how to get judges to act in a responsible manner. What am I missing?

Comment by Papa2008 Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 2:00 pm
Kass always seems to know exactly who to …call…and what to call “them”, eh?

Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 2:01 pm
John Kass was disingenuous, misleading and exploitative? Say it ain’t so.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 2:02 pm
Odds of Kass surviving the first wave of cuts at the Trib under their new ownership? He’ll be in the first wave… he’s bad for subscription sales, and thereby bad for advertising revenue. He and his divisive rhetoric won’t be missed.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 2:04 pm
Thanks Rich for this post… I was wondering about this when I read the column. Thanks for shining some light on it.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 2:05 pm
That particular ex-judge is known for having some really extremist views.

Comment by Is it 2022 yet Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 2:12 pm
To the “Kassian Way”,

On the rare occasions I find I must read Kass to be able to understand the undercurrent of Trumpian type-ish thinking, the stylings are how I go about it, first and then last;

Kass’ style is writing backwards to a conclusion of “conscience”, or predetermined thought, you choose, rarely of the facts pertaining *to* a conclusion, and build around that conclusion of thought very specific and dog whistle writing, or… writing to simple thinking of division or angst towards another… as to be an aggrieved party to some reason of being aggrieved… that mere mortals can’t grasp.

I find it important to remind myself that prism.

Otherwise, not interviewing folks would anger me as much as preconceived end thoughts.

Plus, using that prism, I find more sad comedy to the angst he tries to peddle at times, without buying into his farce.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 2:17 pm
Kass is a writer of limited ability, scope, and content. Reading his column is like serving leftovers day in and day out. He’s no Mike Royko.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 2:34 pm
==Odds of Kass surviving the first wave of cuts at the Trib under their new ownership?==

Off the board. Kass is the darling of management and the ideal sycophant for ownership. When the Tribune finally dies under Alden, it’ll be nothing but wire copy and a daily Kass column, 2 out of 7 of which will be new each week. He will continue to make six figures for it through the last day.

Comment by Roadrager Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 2:42 pm
==He’s no Mike Royko.==

As much as he so desperately wishes he was…

Comment by North Park Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 2:49 pm
Readers of Kass’s column don’t get souvenir pens.
All they get is pain. And nightmares.

Comment by Bigtwich Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 3:10 pm
==More folks need to keep that in mind.==

They do keep that in mind and that’s what they want and believe in. One set of rules for the rich and one for everyone else.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Feb 26, 21 @ 3:59 pm