Enough is enough. As members of the Jewish community, we will not remain silent. We need your help to call on our legislators to continue to support pretrial fairness in face of attacks from the federal government.

Background:

For decades in Illinois, the size of a person’s bank account was the main factor determining who was jailed and who returned to the community while awaiting trial and presumed innocent. The money bond system caused countless people to lose their jobs, housing, and even custody of their children, not because they had been found to be a danger but simply because they couldn’t afford to purchase their freedom while awaiting trial. 

In 2021 RAC-IL was an integral part of the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice that won the campaign to end money bond in Illinois.  This historic victory has impacted hundreds of thousands of people and has made it so we no longer hold people who are presumed innocent while awaiting trial. 

Jewish Values:

Jewish tradition emphasizes the sanctity and eternal value of human life and that your personal level of wealth should not impact your right to justice. The Torah teaches that: 

“You shall commit no injustice in judgement. Do not favor the poor nor show deference to the rich. You shall judge your fellow with righteousness” (Leviticus 19:15). 

More Information:

For more information on this issue, contact RAC-IL state organizer Aaron Sofian at asofian@rac.org. 

Notes

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