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| CREDIT: Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Around a dozen families of victims of violent crimes have gathered outside the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Little Village in Chicago, Illinois. They've gathered to protest the release of those accused of committing violent crimes. Some of the families held up photos of their family members, who had been killed by those who had been released on bond while awaiting trial. Police Superintendent David Brown has been one among many who have stated the courts are releasing too many criminals who have been charged with violent crimes. He also believes the county's courts are relying too heavily on electronic monitoring. Chief Judge Tim Evans has stated there is no data supporting these claims and cites a 2020 Loyola University study on the impact bail reform measures have on crime. "Speculation based on isolated cases is not the same as reality based on a complete picture." One of the protestors Nortasha Stingley has stated that the man who killed her daughter Marissa Boyd-Stingley is one example of someone who shouldn't have been given a bond while awaiting trial. "I just really want to ask some of these judges, what if it was your child? What if the shoe was on the other foot?" Marissa was 19 at the time of her death. Reginald Reed, was charged with the shooting Marissa died in, and had a bail set for $150, 000 with electronic monitoring. This means he needed to post $15,000 to be released with a GPS bracelet on home confinement while he was awaiting trial. Defendants in murder cases aren't usually placed on bail, but according to Judge Charlies Beach, the evidence was "weak." Court records have stated Reed wasn't on bond at the time Marissa was killed, and has since had no further charges placed against him. Another mother at the protest, Nikki Swoboda, whose son, Julian Castillo, was beaten and fatally shot in February but two gang members, believes judges who let accused criminals out on bond contributed to her son's death. Jesus Moro, one of the men accused of killing 16-year-old Julian was out on bond with a charge of aggravated discharge of a firearm during this time. "These judges won't be getting my vote, at all. You killed my son, you were a contribution to why my son is not living right now. He was a child...This is not normal and the city should not accept this as being normal. This needs to stop." Opponents of the cash bail system explain it allows those with money to go home, and those without money to be kept in custody while awaiting trial. State lawmakers have voted to remove the cash bail system in 2023. |
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