Pretrial Implementation Task Force to Host Regional Education Seminars Across Illinois

The Illinois Supreme Court Pretrial Implementation Task Force (Task Force) will host regional education seminars across Illinois to overview pretrial justice and the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA), which is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2023.  

The PFA, legislation passed as part of Public Act 101-652, abolishes the use of cash bail in pretrial release decisions as of Jan. 1 and establishes new processes for pretrial release and detention decisions.  

“The Task Force has worked tirelessly to ensure the implementation of the PFA goes as smoothly as possible on January 1,” said the Hon. Robbin Stuckert (ret.), Chair of the Task Force. “These education sessions will be open to justice system partners and community members all across Illinois and are intended to assist counties with the implementation process.” 

The education seminars are scheduled to go from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The confirmed seminar dates and locations are: 

• November 9 - Spoon River Community College in Macomb
• November 15 - Northern Illinois University in Dekalb
• December 1 – Springfield, venue TBA 
• December 13 – John A. Logan Community College in Carterville

Additional seminar dates and locations are being scheduled for Champaign and Chicago. 

Attendees will gather for plenary morning presentations and Q&A related to pretrial practices and the PFA before participating in breakout discussion groups based upon professional and community affiliations. There will be a closing plenary session for reports from breakout discussion groups and to provide opportunity for Q&A.   

All are welcome to attend the sessions. The breakout groups will be divided by justice system partners and community organizations and members, including: Judges, Law Enforcement, State’s Attorneys, Public Defenders, Pretrial Officers (OSPS and County), Probation Directors, Circuit Court Clerks, Deputy Clerks, Trial Court Administrators, Legislators, County Boards and Administrators, Civic, Religious, Community Based Organizations, Behavioral Health Advocates, Domestic Violence Advocates, Partner Abuse Intervention Program Advocates. Interested members of the public are also invited to attend.  

Register for the Regional Education Seminar. 

View the Task Force resources, including flowcharts and considerations of the PFA, as well as video recordings of previous virtual Town Halls, a schedule of upcoming Town Halls, and a list of Task Force members and subcommittees, on the Illinois Courts website. Monthly Town Halls also continue to be held and have covered topics such as an introduction to the PFA, release by citation, release from custody, pretrial assessment tools, and first appearance hearings.