When Illinois ended cash bail this week, many who have been following the news about crime rates in Chicago got a sinking feeling in the pits of their stomachs. One can only imagine the celebrations taking place at the HQ where all of the muggers, mass retail thieves, and gangbangers hang out. Plus, the remaining janitors working in the Windy City’s jails should have a much lighter work schedule in the future. But I’m not the only one seeing the potential benefits of this new system. Chicago’s new Mayor, Brandon Johnson, seemed very excited about the possibilities. He quickly released a statement proclaiming that “putting people in jail does not work for keeping the public safe.” He even made a specific reference to gun crimes, saying “We’ve tried prosecuting our way out of gun violence,” and “It hasn’t worked.” Oh, really? Let’s explore these ideas for a moment. (Townhall)

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) released a statement on Monday after Illinois abolished cash bail as a condition of pretrial release, with some exceptions for violent and sexual crimes, saying putting people in jail does not work for keeping the public safe.

“If incarceration [equals] safety, the U.S. would be the safest country in the world. We’ve tried prosecuting our way out of gun violence. It hasn’t worked,” Johnson posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“For too long, the money’s bond system has exacerbated existing inequities and disparities in the legal system and has not improved safety.”

Johnson went on to reference the impacts of “mass incarceration” and how it leads to “the destabilization of families and households.” Do you know what else leads to the destabilization of families and households? Having your home invaded and burglarized. Being carjacked by thugs and being forced to take the bus to work. And then being mugged on the bus. But apparently, those are not concerns shared by the new mayor.

Illinois House Speaker Emmanuel Welch crowed that Illinois is “no longer criminalizing poverty.” That’s the talking point they’ve been using for ages. But thanks to this crew, they’re really not criminalizing much of anything.

The new law was called the “Pretrial Fairness Act” and it is now in effect all across the state. According to the state, suspects will still be able to be detained while awaiting trial provided they are accused of “violent or sexual offenses or facing charges involving a gun.” But that flies in the face of the Mayor’s claim that it “didn’t work” when Chicago tried “prosecuting its way out of ” gun violence. So how will judges and prosecutors interpret the phrase “involving a gun?” Will simply having a gun in your possession be sufficient cause to keep you behind bars? Or would you have to brandish it? Would you need to literally shoot someone? Also, if the gun is unregistered and illegally owned, isn’t that a crime “involving a gun” by default?

Here is a partial list of crimes that will fall under so-called “judicial discretion,” meaning a judge could still determine that detention is inappropriate: first and second-degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault, robbery, burglary, residential burglary, aggravated arson, arson, kidnapping, and aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm. Shouldn’t that list have been thrown out as soon as someone said “first-degree murder?” I mean, that list includes pretty much everything. “Predatory sexual assault” would cover rape. But now, judges and prosecutors will have the discretion to turn people back out onto the streets after being credibly charged with the worst crimes imaginable.

It’s time to admit that Brandon Johnson isn’t really the problem here. He’s a symptom of a much larger fit of insanity that has infected the elected officials of Illinois. Any law-abiding citizen with the ability to do so should flee while they can. Your government is no longer interested in ensuring your safety.