Now I can sleep knowing that people just won't be able to be sent back to jail because they can't afford to pay bail. MAYES: I feel like a load has been lifted because we finally got something that's going to help the Black and brown community.

Today, as Illinois ends money bond, Mayes says she's relieved. And the jail time was rough on her two kids. But she says she lost her home and livelihood. A judge eventually lowered the bond, and she took a plea agreement. MITCHELL: She spent more than a year in jail awaiting trial. MAYES: My bail was set at 250,000, 25,000 to walk. Mayes was charged with aggravated battery. She's been organizing against cash bail since her own criminal case that started with a 2015 fight with a family member. It's just that money will no longer be a condition of release. MARUBIO: Not too different from how we release people now. She said judges will hold in-depth hearings on whether releasing a defendant would pose a safety threat or flight risk. MITCHELL: On a recent panel, Cook County Circuit Judge Mary Marubio laid out plans for courthouses she helps oversee.

MARY MARUBIO: At 12:30 will be what we call initial appearance hearings. Today criminal courts across the state are doing away with what they used to call bond hearings. Chip Mitchell with member station WBEZ in Chicago has our story.ĬHIP MITCHELL, BYLINE: Two years of intense public debate culminated this summer when the Illinois Supreme Court rejected constitutional challenges to the law. Studies show that cash bail disproportionately affects Black, Latino and low-income people. A handful of states have eased rules around cash bail, but Illinois is the first to ban it completely. Please note that the Treasurer's Office will be closed on state holidays.Starting today, judges in Illinois can no longer order people accused of crimes to pay money to get out of jail while awaiting trial. The Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program provides workers with an easy way to save their own money for retirement and is simple and straightforward for employers to facilitate.For Illinois Funds inquiries, click here. The Illinois Funds lets government agencies use the Illinois Treasurer’s resources to safely invest their funds while enjoying the economies of scale available from a pooled fund investment portfolio.The MoneyMinded program ensures that families have valuable financial education resources that can benefit the entire family.For FOIA ('Freedom of Information Act') requests, click here.

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