A rural sheriff in Morrison, Illinois, supports the idea behind the state’s new law ending cash bail. He believes that no one should stay in jail just because they can’t afford bail. However, Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker sees significant issues with how the law has been implemented over the past year, leading to serious, unintended consequences.
Since the reform, most suspects are released unless they’re accused of very serious crimes. Sheriff Booker highlights that this approach has led to a surge in overdoses and deaths. Many crimes in Whiteside County are related to substance abuse, and previously, offenders would receive treatment while in jail. Now, they return to the streets quickly, continuing their addiction.
For example, possessing methamphetamines is not a detainable offense under the new system. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 65% of jail inmates have a substance abuse disorder, and another 20% were under the influence when they committed their crime. Sheriff Booker notes that these individuals were at least staying clean temporarily when jailed, but now they are back on the streets, posing a continued risk.
The problem extends beyond substance abuse. A Justice Department report found that 37% of incarcerated individuals have a mental illness. Due to the early release of many inmates, Whiteside County has had to cut its substance abuse treatment programs, which were crucial for inmate recovery.
For several years, Sheriff Booker’s jail provided substance abuse treatment for inmates awaiting trial. However, with fewer people being detained, the number of participants in these programs has dwindled, forcing the sheriff to stop offering these services. The Whiteside County Jail, which has 129 beds, now only houses 41 inmates, a reduction of about one-third since the law took effect.
Running the jail like a business, Sheriff Booker finds it financially unfeasible to continue funding these treatment programs. The reform has also altered how arrests are approached. Sheriff Booker and his deputies strive to do their jobs diligently, but once the arrests are made, the court system takes over, which is a challenging concept for younger deputies to grasp.
Sheriff Booker argues that the bail reform was rushed without sufficient input from law enforcement. It’s too early to determine the law’s full impact on crime rates, as sheriffs and prosecutors are still gathering data. However, initial findings suggest the system isn’t always effective.
Also Read:
- West Side Businesses Facing Crime Surge: Police Release Details on Recent Robberies
- Residents of South Shore Take a Stand Against Crime and Squatters Near Local Schools
Sheriff Booker believes that most crimes are driven by substance abuse. He advocates for directing individuals charged with non-detainable offenses toward substance abuse treatment, rather than releasing them back onto the streets. This, he argues, would be a more effective approach in addressing the root causes of crime and reducing the negative consequences of the current system.
