Cook County’s no-cash bail policy continues to generate controversy as new data reveals nearly three-quarters of defendants are failing to appear for court dates. Between September 2023 and September 2024, Cook County Clerk Iris Martinez reported 67,416 failures to appear out of more than 90,000 cases—an alarming 74 percent rate. Martinez, a Democrat, broke ranks with party leadership to sound the alarm, warning that the policy undermines victims, witnesses, and law enforcement alike.
On Chicago’s Morning Answer, Dan Proft spoke with Jennifer Harrison, executive director of the Victim’s Rights Reform Council, about the impact of bail reform and the recent executive order from President Trump targeting cashless bail in Washington, D.C. Harrison, who has long campaigned for victims’ rights, described the president’s move as “bittersweet,” noting that families had pleaded for years for action while politicians dismissed their concerns.
Harrison’s advocacy is rooted in personal tragedy. More than 20 years ago, her boyfriend and his best friend were killed in a bar fight by repeat offenders. Despite parole violations, one assailant was never penalized, while others received plea deals and short sentences. “We’ve gone through the worst nightmare imaginable,” Harrison said, “and while we’re trying to pick up the shattered pieces of our lives, politicians are patting themselves on the back for reforms that create more victims.”
Her critique echoed concerns raised by local reporting in Chicago, where at least 10 people this year alone have been charged with shootings or murders while out on felony pre-trial release. Since 2020, 146 murders and 156 attempted murders in the city have been linked to defendants awaiting trial. Harrison argued that similar stories are playing out across the country, with New York reporting more than 700 lives lost due to its own bail reform policies.
She also called for greater accountability from judges, many of whom she accused of avoiding public scrutiny even as their decisions contribute to rising crime. Fear of political retaliation, she suggested, has silenced both sitting and retired judges. “They’re not speaking out for the wrong reasons,” Harrison said, “and we need more people to stand up for what’s right.”
With Trump’s order in place, D.C. has reportedly gone two weeks without a homicide, offering a potential model for other cities. Harrison hopes the move will spark broader reforms and shift attention back to victims rather than offenders. “Imagine if the grief of a mother burying her child mattered as much as the rehabilitation of the person who pulled the trigger,” she said.