Whether you can travel out of state while your criminal case is pending depends on the conditions attached to your release. In some cases, you can travel with permission. In others, leaving the state without approval could cause serious problems for your case.
Illinois changed how pretrial release works when the Pretrial Fairness provisions of the SAFE-T Act took effect, replacing cash bail with a system built around specific release conditions. According to a 2025 report by the Center for American Progress, since the law took effect, jail populations in Illinois dropped 14 percent in urban counties and 25 percent in rural ones, reflecting how many more people are now released under conditions while their cases move through the courts. If you’re facing charges in Kane or Cook County, our Aurora, IL criminal defense lawyer can help you understand exactly where you stand.