Data reveals no spike in violent or property crimes following pretrial fairness act implementation
ILLINOIS – A year after Illinois abolished cash bail, early data indicates that crime rates across the state have declined, despite earlier concerns that the policy change would lead to an increase in lawlessness. A recent report from Loyola University’s Center for Criminal Justice shows that both violent and property crime rates have fallen since the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) took effect.
The Pretrial Fairness Act, which was enacted in 2023, shifted the decision-making process from cash bail to judicial discretion, determining whether individuals should remain in jail before trial based on various factors. Prior to its implementation, critics warned that the new law would result in rising crime rates and increased risks to public safety. However, the data from Loyola University’s study suggests these fears have not materialized.
According to David Olson, a researcher at Loyola, the findings are based on data comparing crime statistics from six months before and six months after the law was introduced. Olson reported a 12% drop in violent and property crime rates across the state. Additionally, the failure-to-appear rate in court proceedings decreased from 17% to 15%.