No More No-Cash Bonds For Chicago Misdemeanors

 Posted on September 11, 2012 in Criminal Defense

The Chicago Sun-Times reported a story about a new policy that the Chicago police have recently started following. On July 17, the Chicago Police Department stopped releasing gang members from stations on no-cash bonds for misdemeanor arrests. If the suspects cannot make their bond amount, they will have to wait in jail until going to court.

To put it simply, the new policy follows a ”keep them locked up until they pay up” idea, which will allow the criminals to have a cooling-off period before returning to streets if they do not have the cash for their bond. The idea came from Chicago P.D. officers, says Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy. The officers had expressed concerns about gang members making it back to the streets after misdemeanor charges before the officers can finish their paperwork.

More than 1,300 gang members across the city have been denied no-cash bonds, which are also known as I-bonds or recognizable bonds, and for the suspects that do not possess enough cash for their bail, it means sitting behind bars for up to 48 hours at times.

A spokesman for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said that the new policy has not caused a spike in the jail population. On Friday, the jail housed almost 9,400 prisoners, while the official capacity is 10,155, the spokeman said.

McCarthy's advisers have said the policy is constitutionally sound, and gang members are not the only arrestees who get denied the right to an I-bond. The department deems, for example, parolees, those with warrants, and those with weapon possession charges eligible for receiving I-bonds.

Depending on the misdemeanor charge, gang members must from now on come up with 10 percent of $1,200 or $1,500 in cash. The new bond policy is a key part of the gang violence reduction strategy launched earlier this year, says McCarthy.

Criminal charges are never something you want to face alone. Make sure you have experienced legal help on your side, and guarantee yourself the best possible outcome regarding your legal troubles. Contact a Cook County criminal defense attorney today to determine the best course of action for dealing with your criminal charges.