News & Commentary

The Illinois Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding the constitutionality of the Pretrial Fairness Act cleared the way for Illinois to become the first state to completely abolish the use of monetary bail on September 18, 2023.  

The War on Drugs has failed and everyone knows it. 79% of Illinois voters support reclassifying sentences for all drug offenses. Yet Illinois continues to treat simple possession of drugs as a felony, with real life consequences.

There are many myths around the Pretrial Fairness Act which ends the use of money bond and transforms the state’s pretrial legal system.

When Laura Bowers was sentenced to life in prison in 1990 in connection with the death of her abusive husband, neither society nor the legal system understood the ramifications of surviving domestic violence. If Ms. Bowers had tried to fl

The statement below can be attributed to Ben Ruddell, Criminal Justice Policy Director, ACLU of Illinois: “We applaud the Illinois House vote today sending House Bill 3447 over to the Senate. This bill reduces penalties for simple drug possession from a felony — which includes the risk of prison time — to a misdemeanor. This approach not only strengthens communities across Illinois but addresses fundamental problems in our criminal legal system, rejecting decades of failed policy under the moniker of the War on Drugs. We know that taking a proven public health approach to reducing harms associated with drug use will benefit everyone in the State of Illinois. The voters recognize this reality. More than 3 in 4 registered voters in Illinois support this approach to simple possession of drugs. We urge the Senate to pass the measure as soon as possible. We thank Representative Ammons for her sponsorship of this bill, and thank all of the members who supported the measure today. Illinois has suffered for too long under these failed policies. We can do better. We will do better.”

A bill that would install a public health approach to drug use in Illinois today cleared a key House Committee in Springfield. Rejecting the failed policies of the “War on Drugs,” House Bill 3447 reduces penalties for small-scale drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor. Testimony before the Committee demonstrated the compelling need for shifting the State’s approach to drug use. The vote in favor of the bill was 12 to 7. 

Earlier today, officials from the DuPage County Jail confirmed to a federal court in Chicago that Christine Finnigan, a woman with the disability of opioid use disorder (OUD), will be provided her life-saving, prescribed medication for addiction treatment while she is at the DuPage County Jail. Critically, the officials tell the court that “Ms. Finnigan will continue receiving her methadone prescription for the duration of her incarceration so long as she does not develop any health issue which contraindicates continuing methadone treatment.” Ms. Finnigan was represented in this matter by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Illinois, Legal Action Center, and the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center. In response to today’s news, Ms. Finnigan’s legal team issued the following statement:  “We are thrilled for Christine and pleased that the Jail intends to provide her prescribed, life-saving medication during this time. It will be a great relief to her. As we have said throughout our pursuit of this matter, the critical issue was protecting Christine’s life and recovery. We also want to recognize Christine’s bravery in bringing this suit. During the litigation, the Jail revealed that it had not provided methadone to a single non-pregnant person since 2016. We hope that the discussion around Christine’s case will encourage DuPage County officials to adopt permanent policies to allow any person with the disability of opioid use disorder to receive life-saving addiction treatment medication. This will save lives in Illinois.”

Today, Governor Pritzker signed HB 3653 into law. 

A woman diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) is at risk of painful and life-threatening consequences if she is denied medically necessary, physician-prescribed methadone during an upcoming incarceration at DuPage County Jail. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Illinois, Legal Action Center, and the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center today filed a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit against the DuPage County Sheriff on behalf of Christine Finnigan to ensure she’s provided with her prescribed medication for addiction treatment (also known as MAT) while she is serving time on a February 2016 DUI.