A woman arrested for assaulting multiple Chicago police officers over the weekend became the city’s first person released under Illinois’ new law ending cash bail statewide.

Authorities said they charged Esmeralda Aguilar, 24, of Cicero with four counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer after accusing her of pepper-spraying four Chicago cops Sunday during Mexican Independence Day festivities.

She was released from jail Monday — the first day the cashless bail law went into effect — after prosecutors didn’t ask the judge to keep her behind bars.

“Reports that on the very first day of no cash bail, a violent offender arrested for attacking four Chicago Police Officers, sending two of them to the hospital, was immediately released because the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office didn’t even bother to file a motion to seek detaining the accused are problematic,” Illinois state Sen. John Curran told local Fox affiliate WFLD in a statement.

Mr. Curran, a Republican, added that this “highlights the misplaced priorities of Illinois’ criminal justice system when the prosecutor prioritizes the freedom of a violent offender over the safety of those police officers dedicated to protecting and serving our communities.”

Judges will now determine if someone should be held before trial based on the danger he or she presents to the community and the likelihood the person will return to court.

Ms. Aguilar’s next court date is scheduled for Sept. 25.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at <a href="mailto:mdelaney@washingtontimes.com">mdelaney@washingtontimes.com</a>.

A woman arrested for assaulting multiple Chicago police officers over the weekend became the city’s first person released under Illinois’ new law ending cash bail statewide.{ai:summary}Esmeralda Aguilar, a woman from Cicero, was released under Illinois' new cashless bail law after being charged with assaulting four Chicago police officers during Mexican Independence Day celebrations. The decision not to keep her behind bars has sparked criticism from politicians and raised concerns about the state's criminal justice system prioritizing offenders over the safety of police officers. Judges will now determine if individuals should be held pre-trial based on their potential danger to the community and likelihood of returning to court. [#crime]