Trump Signs Executive Order Banning No-Cash Bail Nationwide, as Chicago’s Former Top Detective Blasts Local Policies
President Donald Trump has escalated his crackdown on urban crime by signing an executive order aimed at eliminating no-cash bail practices across the United States, with a particular focus on cities like Chicago. The move comes amid sharp criticism from a retired Chicago police chief detective, who claims such policies are enabling “professional bad guys” to terrorize communities without constraints. As the nation grapples with ongoing debates over criminal justice reform, Trump’s action highlights deep divisions between federal intervention and state-level innovations, potentially reshaping public safety strategies for millions of Americans.
The Executive Order: Trump’s Bold Move Against No-Cash Bail
What the Order Entails
On August 25, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to compile a list of states and cities that have “substantially eliminated cash bail” for serious crimes within 30 days. Jurisdictions on this list could face suspension or termination of federal funding, positioning no-cash bail as a threat to public safety. Trump described the policy as a disaster, stating, “No cash. Come back in a couple of months, we’ll give you a trial. You never see the person again.” The order builds on earlier federal actions, including placing Washington, D.C.’s police under federal control and deploying the National Guard there to combat crime.
Targeting Chicago and Illinois
Trump has repeatedly singled out Chicago, calling it a “killing field” and vowing to “end that in Chicago” by changing state statutes through congressional action. He criticized Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson as “incompetent,” even speculating on Pritzker’s potential 2028 presidential run. This follows Trump’s August 11, 2025, announcement where he threatened to send the National Guard to Chicago if local leaders fail to address crime. Illinois, the first state to fully eliminate cash bail via the 2021 SAFE-T Act (effective September 2023), is a prime target despite data showing no crime spike.
Background on No-Cash Bail and the SAFE-T Act
Origins of the Policy
The SAFE-T Act, or Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act, emerged post-George Floyd’s 2020 killing as part of broader criminal justice reforms. It eliminates monetary bail, shifting decisions to judges who assess flight risk or danger to the community for “forcible felonies” like murder, robbery, and aggravated battery. Proponents argue it ends a system that punishes the poor, as cash bail disproportionately jails low-income defendants pretrial—80% of U.S. jail populations are unconvicted, per the Center for American Progress. The Illinois Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality in 2023 after challenges.
Implementation and Early Impacts
Since taking effect, the law has reduced pretrial jail populations and prompted more deliberate hearings—now lasting up to an hour instead of minutes. Studies from Loyola University Chicago’s Center for Criminal Justice show violent crime dropped 15% statewide from August 2023 to mid-2025, with murders down 37% and robberies down 36%. Failure-to-appear rates fell slightly from 25% to 23%. Advocates like the ACLU of Illinois hail it as a “historic” shift prioritizing risk over wealth, with no evidence of increased recidivism for most defendants.
Chicago’s Former Top Detective Speaks Out: Eugene Roy’s Critique
A Veteran’s Perspective
Eugene Roy, Chicago’s chief detective from 1986 to 2016, has emerged as a vocal opponent of no-cash bail, speaking to Fox News Digital on August 31, 2025. Roy traces the policy’s roots to 2012’s “young liberal progressive legislators” pushing the SAFE-T Act, which he says releases violent offenders without victim protections. “Every place in the country where you have no-cash bail is a disaster,” Roy echoed Trump, blaming it for demoralizing police under constant scrutiny.
Real-World Examples of Exploitation
Roy highlighted cases like Diashun Dixson, arrested in May 2023 for assaulting two men and set $10,000 bail. Released under the SAFE-T Act, he allegedly punched a 19-year-old student in Union Station weeks later, breaking her nose. Another: Quijuan Waters, 21, allegedly shot a man in December 2023 while out on prior bail for shootings. Roy called criminals “professionals at what they do,” gaming the system and eroding community safety. He noted pre-2023 issues, like 2017’s Cook County “affordable bail” freeing violent suspects and 2019’s Fabian Diaz, released on juvenile bail before a gang homicide.
Expert Opinions and Public Reactions
Divided Views on Effectiveness
Experts are split. Loyola’s David Olson notes the system’s smoothness, with prosecutors now better detaining true threats: “People who have money but are dangerous can’t buy their way out.” Alison Siegler of the University of Chicago calls outcomes “positive,” contradicting fears of chaos. Conversely, Roy insists it “absolutely demoralizes” officers, leading to second-guessing. The Brennan Center for Justice found no crime link to bail reform nationwide, while a 2024 Data Collaborative study showed mixed recidivism effects—decreases for misdemeanors, slight increases for some felonies.
Broader Reactions
Illinois Democrats like Sen. Robert Peters pushed back, calling Trump’s order a “political game” that ignores crime drops: “We’ve seen a historic drop in violence.” Gov. Pritzker labeled it illegal federal overreach. ACLU’s Ed Yohnka warned of lawsuits, citing sanctuary city precedents. On social media and in polls, conservatives praise Trump’s “tough on crime” stance, while reformers decry it as fearmongering. National Guard threats drew bipartisan alarm, with ex-generals noting troops can’t act as police.
Impact on U.S. Readers: Politics, Economy, and Lifestyle
Political Ramifications
For U.S. voters, especially in battleground states like Illinois (with 70 million residents affected indirectly), this pits federal power against states’ rights. Trump’s order could spark lawsuits, testing executive limits on funding—similar to failed sanctuary city cuts. Politically, it energizes his base amid 2026 midterms, framing Democrats as “weak on crime,” while reformers see it as regressive, ignoring data on equity.
Economic and Lifestyle Effects
Economically, withholding funds could hit Illinois’ $50 billion+ in federal aid for education, health, and infrastructure, raising taxes or cuts for taxpayers. Lifestyle-wise, no-cash bail has freed families from “ransom” choices, reducing pretrial disruptions like job loss—key for working-class Americans. Yet critics like Roy argue it endangers communities, heightening fear in high-crime areas like Chicago’s South Side. Nationally, with 30+ cities reforming bail, this could slow equity efforts, affecting mental health and recidivism in diverse urban lifestyles.
Broader Societal Shifts
The debate ties into post-pandemic crime trends (down nationally despite reforms), influencing policy in states like New York and New Jersey. For sports fans or everyday readers, safer streets mean more vibrant cities, but overreach risks eroding trust in institutions.
Conclusion: A Flashpoint in Criminal Justice Reform
President Trump’s executive order banning no-cash bail marks a aggressive federal push against state reforms, amplified by Chicago’s former chief detective Eugene Roy’s stark warnings of exploited systems and demoralized police. While data from Illinois shows declining crime and fairer processes under the SAFE-T Act, critics highlight real cases of recidivism, underscoring the policy’s contentious legacy. As legal battles loom over funding threats, the future hinges on whether federal intervention prevails or states defend their innovations. For Americans, this could redefine public safety—balancing equity with accountability—or deepen divides. Watch for Bondi’s report and potential court challenges, which may clarify the order’s reach by late September 2025.