The Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice is writing to correct some significant misinformation currently circulating surrounding the horrific murders that occurred in Joliet, Illinois recently. What happened was a tragedy. Sadly, some are using this moment of mourning and shock to push a false narrative around the Pretrial Fairness Act. We are writing to correct any misunderstandings that have resulted.
 
Facts on the Underlying Case
 
Romeo Nance’s previous arrests occurred prior to the enactment of the Pretrial Fairness provisions of the SAFE-T Act. His most serious charged offense was aggravated discharge, and the judge set a $100,000 bond in that case. In January 2023 — nine months before the elimination of money bond — someone paid the required 10% ($10,000) to free Mr. Nance from custody. Under the old pretrial laws, the prosecution had no authority to request Mr. Nance be denied release. Because aggravated discharge is a probationable offense, he was not eligible for detention at that time, regardless of how dangerous the judge believed Mr. Nance to be. This ensured he was given a money bond that could then be paid to secure his release. Under the Pretrial Fairness Act, aggravated discharge is now clearly listed as a charge for which release may be denied. Mr. Nance was also facing several other weapons-related charges that were likewise previously ineligible for detention and are now detainable under the Pretrial Fairness Act. If Mr. Nance had been arrested while the Pretrial Fairness Act was in effect, the prosecution could have requested his detention and the court could have granted it.
 
In at least one media report, a judge decried his inability to detain Nance’s girlfriend Kyleigh Cleveland-Singleton, who has been charged with obstructing justice. Unlike Nance, Ms. Cleveland-Singleton’s charge does require she be released and given an initial opportunity to succeed while awaiting trial and presumed innocent. Cleveland-Singleton has not been accused of any violence, her offense is the lowest class of felony, and she is caring for a three-year-old son who just lost numerous members of his family to violence. Importantly, the old money bond system also did not allow judges to deny someone release for obstruction of justice, a non-violent Class 4 felony. Before the Pretrial Fairness Act took effect, Ms. Cleveland-Singleton would have been ordered released — either with or without payment of a money bond. The court now retains the power to set numerous conditions of release that do not involve paying money. And though Ms. Cleveland-Singleton was ordered released, she must remain on electronic monitoring. Moving forward, should Ms. Cleveland-Singleton violate the conditions of her pretrial release, the court has the power to take her into custody.
 
“Tragedies are no time for politics, and it is inappropriate to trade on human sorrow to spread dangerous misinformation solely to score political points – and undermine policies that actually make our communities safer. Our hearts go out to all those impacted by these sad events.” Ben Rudell, ACLU of Illinois, a member organization of the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice.