When Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the SAFE-T Act into law in 2021, he hailed it as a landmark step toward equity and accountability in Illinois’ criminal justice system. But nearly four years later, the fallout from this sweeping legislation has left many Illinoisans asking: who is this law really protecting?
The SAFE-T Act—short for Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today—eliminated cash bail statewide through the Pretrial Fairness Act. The law allows dangerous individuals to walk free before trial, undermining public safety and justice for victims.
