Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Tree of Life to Host Forum on Facts Not Fiction About Illinois SAFE-T Act and Bail Reform

Last year activists lobbied the Illinois General Assembly to end money bail requirements that penalize poverty.

Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry, will host an on-line forum to discuss the truth about the Pretrial Fairness provisions of the SAFE-T Act this Saturday, October 22 at 5pm on Zoom. 

“Much misinformation and fear mongering has been spread,” according to Tree of Life Social Justice Chair Patrick Murfin.  “We want to let our community this important criminal justice reform.”


Tree of Life is partnering with the UU Prison Ministry of Illinois (UUPMI) and their allies at Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice (INPJ) who argue that pre-trial detention for the inability to post a cash bail is a de facto punishment for being poor.  They will also show that judges will still have the power to prevent release of people who pose a danger to others.

Sarah Staudt, Director of Policy for the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts will make the presentation.

Sarah Staudt, Director of Policy for the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, a partner organization of the INPJ, will make the presentation and answer questions.  Staudt primarily focuses on pretrial issues and was instrumental in advocating for the groundbreaking Pretrial Fairness Act, which passed in 2021.  She leads program work focused on electronic detention, abolishing overly punitive sentencing systems, and promoting court system efficiency, fairness, and accountability. She graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 2013.  Before coming to work with Chicago Appleseed, was an Equal Justice Works Fellow and criminal defense attorney with the Lawndale Christian Legal Center (LCLC) where she represented juveniles and young adults.

The public is welcome to join the program free of charge on Zoom here.

For more information visit the Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/637248648045272/, visit https://treeoflifeuu.org/, or call Patrick Murfin at 815 814-5645.



  

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