In 2015, more than 1,000 non-violent, low-level offenders spent more time in jail than they were sentenced to serve. The reason? They did not have the money to post bail. To keep this from happening any longer, and to ultimately reduce the overpopulation of local jails and prisons, Governor Bruce Rauner signed the Bail Reform Act into law. What is this new law, and how might it affect your criminal charges case? The following explains.

Cash Bail No Longer Required for Some Offenses

Criminal justice reform advocates have been criticizing the state’s bail system for some time now, calling it unfair to Illinois’ poorer and disadvantaged communities. Most could not afford the 10 percent down payment needed to meet bail. Instead, they would be forced to spend weeks, sometimes months incarcerated for non-violent or low-level crimes.

Now, under the new law, some low-level offenders may be given a non-monetary bail such as a stay-away order, drug or alcohol counseling, curfew, in-person reporting, or electronic home monitoring. If by chance, the individual is given a monetary bail amount that they cannot afford to pay, they are permitted to request a rehearing of their bail. That rehearing must be provided to them within seven days of the request.

Guns are subject to many regulations, and gun laws are hotly debated. Therefore, with all the focus on guns, it is easy to forget that knives are subject to regulations and in some cases are illegal.

There are several reasons to lawfully carry a knife, and knife collecting itself is not illegal. They are useful tools to many people’s professions and hobbies such as hunting. However, what one person may view as an eccentric or rare knife, the law may view as illegal.

It is important to determine if the knives you carry are illegal. If an officer sees you carrying an illegal knife or sees the knife in plain view in your car, the officer could use that as justification for a search of your body or car.

What Knives Are Legal