Get the mentally ill out of Jail and put the Gang-bangers in
by Morris Reeves, Chair of the Assumption SJ Committee

The struggle around mass prison  incarceration and social justice has registered a win with the passing of the new Illinois law “Bail Reform Act SB2034” which brings some welcome changes to the Illinois cash bail system.  We will see the biggest effects in the jail systems of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties.

The Bail Reform Act, makes some significant changes to the bail process in Illinois and seeks to deal with the problems faced by people who are charged with minor non-violent crimes and are stuck in jail because they are unable to come up with the low amount of cash required to post bail so they can be released.

An episode on the television news program” 60 Minutes” pointed out numerous problems with Cook County Jail.  The episode noted that in 2016, over a thousand people spent more time in Cook County Jail than what they were eventually sentenced to by the court.. The main reason behind this was that non-violent offenders, who were charged with minor crimes, could not pay the cash bail needed to get out of jail while waiting to go to trial.    In many cases this took months.  Forcing poor people to stay in jail without being convicted of a crime shows the social injustice of the system.

Tom Dart, the Cook County Sheriff, is in charge of running the day-to-day operations of Cook County Jail.  He has long been an advocate for reforming the Bail process. He pushed the Illinois Legislature for a number of years, to address the Bail process.  Showing bipartisan cooperation both Democrats and Republicans came together to solve a problem and injustice.  This new law specifically states that a cash bail is not required for people who are being charged with a non-violent misdemeanor or a low level felony.  There is  a presumption under the new law that any bail set in cases like these should not be monetary. Instead of being required to post a cash bond, the court first considers electronic home monitoring, orders of protection, curfews, drug and mental health treatment, and in-person reporting.

While this new law is a step in the right direction social injustices remains especially dealing with mental illness.   This new law does nothing to deal with the fact that Cook County Jail has become the largest mental health treatment center in the world.   Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart sees this as a short coming of the new “Bail Reform” law.   Also there is the issue of gang members, who are able to post a cash bail with illegal money obtained from gang activities.  Much of the violence we currently see in Chicago stems from violent and dangerous gang members being free on bail while committing violent crimes and shootings.   Sheriff Dart believes that Cook County Jail has become a revolving door for gang members. The current Cook County jail population l is approximately 7,500 prisoners a day. Roughly 70,000 inmates a year pass through Cook County Jail

Mental health is where the problems remain.   In 2012, Chicago closed down half the mental health facilities in the city.  Cook County Jail was already one of the largest providers of mental health services in the country and world having a third of the inmates suffering from mental illness.   Cook County Jail has become the dumping ground for the mentally ill.

Our criminal justice system problems are not just confined to the criminal justice system. We need to look at our priorities and our values as a society. We must look inward and decide what type of a society we want to be.  As a just and fair society centered on the tenets of Christian mercy we should not allow our jails to become the dumping ground for it’s poor and mentally ill.  This is where the challenge moves from here.

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Prayers for Mass Incarceration

We pray for those who are incarcerated and for our society that has fallen into this devaluing pattern.

We pray for the men and women living behind bars, that they may be transformed by the renewing of their minds and come to know the transformative power of the cross.

We pray for perseverance and discernment to do what the Lord has commanded the Church to do.

We pray for racial equity in arrests and sentencing.

We pray for at-risk youth, that God puts mentors into their lives; that they recognize the importance of education and relationships; and that they always know their own value and dignity.

We pray that mandatory minimums and harsh drug sentences may be changed.

We pray that God may end private prison corporations and the practice of making money off of inmates.

We pray for those suffering from mental illness or addiction, that they may receive treatment and rehabilitation, for they are worthy of medical care.

We pray for our nation's leaders, that they may govern in support of all people.

And we pray for the Church, that we may humble ourselves, show no judgment to those incarcerated and treat all members of the Body of Christ equally.

Amen.

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Jesus, with the Father and the Holy Spirit…Give us your compassion for those in prison. Mend in mercy the broken in mind and memory. Soften the hard of heart, the captives of anger. Free the innocent, parole the trustworthy. Awaken the repentance that restores hope. May prisoners' families persevere in their love.

Jesus...Heal the victims of crime. They live with the scars. Lift to eternal peace those who die. Grant victims' families the forgiveness that heals. Give wisdom to lawmakers and to those who judge. Instill prudence and patience in those who guard. Make those in prison ministry bearers of your light, for all of us are in need of your mercy! Amen.