CRIME

Lawsuits filed to strike down Democrats’ SAFE-T Act. State’s attorneys, who are tasked with implementing the so-called “SAFE-T Act” on January 1, 2023, are asking questions about the constitutionality of the proposed new law.

The Democrat-passed SAFE-T Act, if it is allowed to go into effect, will eliminate Illinois’ cash bail system on January 1, which will have wide-ranging consequences throughout our criminal justice system. With the elimination of cash bail, criminal suspects will be detained before trial only in the case of forcible felonies which are nonprobational or unless they are considered a flight risk or a danger to someone in the community. Many violent crimes, including robbery, vehicular invasion, DUI resulting in a death, and second-degree murder, do not qualify under this new law. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin has called this policy “a horrible slap in the face to victims and neighborhoods desperately seeking safety.”

CRIME

The Truth about No Cash Bail in Illinois. Starting next year, Illinois' cash bail system will be eliminated due to provisions in the Democrats' so-called “SAFE-T Act.” That means on January 1, people can no longer be held in custody prior to trial for offenses like robbery, arson, second degree murder, kidnapping and more. The elimination of cash bail will reduce public safety and put communities across the state at risk. We have to repeal the SAFE-T Act to keep Illinois residents safe from crime. 

CRIME

Elimination of cash bail will put dangerous criminals back on our streets. During the final hours of the 2021 lame duck session of the 101st General Assembly, Illinois Democrats rammed through anti-police, pro-criminal legislation under the cover of darkness.

The Democrats’ so-called “SAFE-T” Act (HB 3653, PA 101-652) contained many controversial provisions that make extensive changes to Illinois ‘criminal justice laws. The legislation abolishes cash bail, makes it more difficult for prosecutors to charge a defendant with felony murder, adds further requirements for no-knock warrants, gives judges the ability to deviate from mandatory minimum sentencing requirements, makes changes to the “three strikes” law, and decreases mandatory supervised release terms, among other changes.