Lake County Gazette

Rep. Martin McLaughlin is speaking out against the cashless bail system that went into effect on Sept. 18, 2023, following a legal battle that made it to the Illinois Supreme Court. On Sept. 22, McLaughlin shared a link to a video where he discussed the need to focus on victims’ rights over criminals’ rights.

"As a former mayor and head of my public police department, I think it’s time we started pointing the finger at who’s really responsible for our increased crime rates, especially since cashless bail has just been implemented for the first time in our state," said McLaughlin. "It’s a list that puts us number one, but not in the way that I think our residents want. Criminals are responsible."

McLaughlin, a Republican state representative who resides in Barrington Hills, has been vocal about his opposition to the cashless bail system. In a video, he expanded on his thoughts, saying, "We just shut down Friday morning swim club in Chicago, but we won’t publicly acknowledge the gathering of vandals who are destroying public property in the heart of this great city. We need to stop focusing on criminal rights and start focusing on victims. Frankly, we need to make crime illegal again in Illinois."

The cashless bail system, which was upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court in July, requires a rigorous review of cases where individuals are accused of serious crimes before they are kept behind bars pending trial. The ruling stated that the system would go into effect on Sept. 18, 2023. Lake County District Attorney Eric Rinehart stated that judges will decide whether someone is detained or not detained awaiting trial, and those arrested after the effective date will no longer be able to access cash to gain release.

McLaughlin has previously spoken out against the SAFE-T Act, which was signed into law in 2022 and faced legal challenges before going into effect. He argued that the law has done nothing to reduce violent crime in the state and expressed concerns about its constitutionality.

As McLaughlin continues to advocate for a focus on victims' rights and holding criminals accountable, the debate over the cashless bail system in Illinois is likely to continue.