For supporters of the new Illinois criminal justice reform law, ending cash bail for most crimes is about not keeping people in jail more for being poor than for being accused. County governments across the state are looking at it as a revenue reducer. Counties keep 10% of bail money in nearly all cases, even when the defendant wins the case. LaSalle County Circuit Clerk Greg Vaccaro says that’s something offices like his are used to getting.
Vaccaro estimates the loss to LaSalle County will be more than $75,000 per year in two years when the change takes effect.