Lake County Gazette

Opponents of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act are worried about its elimination of cash bail, effective Jan. 1, 2023.

“There’s so much vague language in this bill, it’s going to force judges and prosecutors to let violent offenders back on the streets,” Rep. Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich) said.

Supporters of the SAFE-T Act, including the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, point to the legislation as a step toward making the justice system more equitable for minorities. Republicans have called the SAFE-T Act a “de facto defund the police bill" because of its additional regulations on police officers.

“I can sympathize with the sentiment in the sense that your ability to be free while awaiting trial shouldn’t be dictated solely based on your ability to pay,” Bos said. “It should deal with the crime you are accused of and your threat to the community.”

“Bail reform is needed, however, the system being put in place levies the power to those who are committing the offenses and sends to them the message there are no penalties for their actions,” Bos said.

Multiple state's attorneys expressed concern over the legislation at a media briefing in April, according to the Center Square. 

One state’s attorney said, “With this new law, our hands will be tied. What sane citizen in this state of Illinois would want the state’s attorney’s hands tied, the police hands tied, and give all the perks going to violent offenders? That’s what this law does.”

Illinois is the first state to end cash bail.

Gov. Pritzker recently defended the elimination of cash bail, according to The Center Square.

“We do not want someone in jail because they were arrested for a low-level crime like shoplifting to be sitting in jail for months or maybe even years,” Pritzker said. “At the same time, someone who is a wealthy drug dealer, perhaps accused of murder and arrested, can show up with a suitcase full of money and get out of jail.”