Federal authorities have stepped in to detain a 50-year-old Chicago man accused of setting a woman on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train, arguing that Illinois’ cashless bail system failed to restrain a repeat violent offender.
Lawrence Reed now faces federal charges of terrorism against a mass transit system after prosecutors say he doused a woman with gasoline and ignited it on November 17. The victim remains hospitalized with severe burns.
The attack has reignited controversy surrounding the SAFE-T Act, the 2021 law that made Illinois the first U.S. state to eliminate cash bail. The legislation emphasizes pretrial release conditions—like electronic monitoring—instead of monetary bond.
Released Despite Long Violent Record
Court documents show Reed was free under pretrial conditions at the time of the CTA attack. His criminal background spans three decades, including 72 arrests and eight felony convictions.
Just months earlier, Reed was jailed for allegedly assaulting a social worker so violently that she suffered a concussion and chipped teeth. Prosecutors urged the court to keep him in custody. However, Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez ordered his release with electronic monitoring under the constraints of the SAFE-T Act.
“I can’t keep everybody in jail because the State’s Attorney wants me to,” the judge reportedly told prosecutors.
Later, a different court removed Reed’s electronic monitoring altogether, replacing it with a simple curfew—even though he had been accused of repeatedly violating release conditions.
Federal Authorities: State System Failed
In a motion for federal custody, the U.S. Department of Justice argued that Illinois’ system had been unable to prevent Reed’s escalating offenses. The DOJ noted that he previously received probation for a 2020 arson attack.
“Defendant has been leniently treated in state court,” the motion stated. “In exchange for such lenient treatment, defendant has consistently re-offended and delved further into criminality.”
A U.S. magistrate judge ordered Reed arrested Friday. Reed has declined legal representation in the federal case.
Governor Signals Openness to Changes
Governor J.B. Pritzker, a strong supporter of the SAFE-T Act, responded to questions about the case Friday. While defending the law’s original intent—to prevent wealth from determining pretrial freedom—Pritzker acknowledged that some parts may now need review.
“Sometimes bills get passed and everybody that votes for it knows that there needs to be a tweak made afterward,” Pritzker said. “Everybody is open to listening to what changes might need to be made.”
The case continues to fuel debate about pretrial policy, public safety, and how to balance reform with accountability.
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