Kane County Reporter

In the Kane County State’s Attorney race, candidate Andrew Sosnowski has voiced concerns about the potential consequences of Illinois' no cash bail system on community safety. Sosnowski took to Facebook to express his worries.

“Sadly, this is the slippery slope of Illinois’ no cash bail system,” Sosnowski said on Facebook. “We need LAW AND ORDER to keep our communities safe! This will lead to more people being released and it’s coming to the suburbs.”

“As your KANE COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY, I will tirelessly fight for safety above all else. We can’t let these policies take over our streets.”

These comments from Sosnowski follow the Illinois Supreme Court's recognition of a significant rise in appeals after cash bail was abolished. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, in response to this surge, the court has established a task force to examine the issue and deliver a report within 45 days. The Pretrial Fairness Act, enacted in September, permits individuals to appeal decisions concerning their custody or release conditions. Appellate courts have seen a marked increase in appeals especially in central and southern Illinois which poses challenges for timely rulings.

Despite expectations of high volumes of appeals, stakeholders maintain that this process is vital for elucidating and refining how the new law is implemented. The law establishes an expectation of release for defendants awaiting trial and eradicates monetary requirements for securing release. It aims to strike a balance between justice and public safety. The legal community eagerly awaits the task force's findings as they grapple with understanding how these reforms impact the criminal justice system.

Andrew Sosnowski's LinkedIn profile reveals that he is a Senior Corporate and Legal Advisor with expertise in executive leadership, criminal justice, personal injury, child welfare, civil litigation and administrative law. He currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice at Aurora University and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College. With over 23 years of experience teaching criminal justice and paralegal studies at Elgin Community College, Sosnowski also owns and operates the Law Offices of Andrew J Sosnowski. His past roles include serving as General Counsel for the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), where he played a pivotal role in combating insurance crime.

Sosnowski is running unopposed in the Republican primary on March 19. The current office holder is State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser who is seeking reelection. According to the Chicago Tribune, Mosser is also running unopposed within the Democratic party.