McHenry County Sheriff Robb Tadelman took the high road in his statement about the recent decision by the Illinois Supreme Court to uphold Illinois’ new SAFE-T Act, which eliminates the old cash bail system for criminal suspects. “While we are still reviewing the decision, we will continue to work with the State’s Attorney’s Office, Court […]
I had written a letter to the editor regarding my disappointment in the McHenry County Board’s decision to oppose the state law passed on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. As I was contemplating on sending it, I saw a segment on TV that had me realize how ignorant some our political leaders are when it […]
Early in my career as a minister, I served a small church south of the Mason Dixon line. The board of trustees was mainly comprised of transplants from the north and decided it was a no-brainer to pass a policy banning firearms in church. It was in response to a recent church shooting only two […]
Do we get to pick, chose the laws we want to obey? So fortunate we are in McHenry County that we have not been added to the ranks of Uvalde, Sandy Hook, Highland Park, and so many others. We have been spared the heartache of these many communities. Reading that our sheriff, Robb Tadelman, […]
Cash bail is punishment for people who can’t afford it Your recent editorial on a key provision of the SAFE-T Act (“State making an attempt at fairness for pretrial detainees,” Jan. 16) was spot on. As you note, the issue of cash bail is an issue of equity. I would only add that lack of […]
Let’s say we have two criminal defendants, each charged with the same crime, like aggravated assault. One sits in jail for months while awaiting trial. The other goes free the day of arrest until the trial date arrives. What’s the difference? The guy stuck in jail cannot afford to post bail. The other can. It […]
By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Most of the SAFE-T Act is in effect everywhere in Illinois. Changes to the cash bail system are in effect nowhere. A Kankakee County judge ruled last week that lawmakers overreached their constitutional authority in passing a measure to abolish cash bail in Illinois, while other provisions in […]
By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Much of the talk from supporters of the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform has, in recent days, centered on how it will or won’t be amended before Jan. 1, when cash bail is scheduled to be abolished in Illinois as part of a provision known as the Pretrial Fairness […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
