Illinois Senate OKs crime bill cleanup and sends it to House

By JOHN O’CONNOR
AP Political Writer

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Senate has approved followup bill clarifying a watershed criminal justice overhaul, which takes effect Jan. 1 and will notably eliminate cash bail for defendants awaiting trial. The followup bill by Democrats adds numerous offenses to the list of crimes that qualify a defendant to remained jailed pending trial. The state Senate voted 38-17 to approve it Thursday, sending it for House consideration. It would clarify parts of the so-called SAFE-T Act, which among other things will notably eliminate the posting of a cash bond to ensure a person appears at trial. Some say that practice penalizes the poor while others warn of risks of releasing potentially dangerous criminals.