SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Thursday marked the second anniversary of the Pretrial Fairness Act, which abolished cash bail in Illinois. Advocates said rates of pretrial jailing and crime have decreased across the state, but Republicans said criminals are skipping court dates and traumatizing victims.

Democrats told WAND News that Illinois has seen a significant drop in violent and property crimes, while the two-year re-arrest rate for people released pretrial has improved.

"That decline is coming because we are making the investments necessary to help us reimagine what public safety looks like," said Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago). "You're seeing that happen across the state. You are seeing individuals accused of violent crime be held."

Sims said detentions for domestic violence are up cons

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