Carbondale Reporter

Rep. Pat Windhorst (R-Metropolis) recently announced his support for House Bill 4499 which would abolish criminal justice provisions included in the Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today Act, or SAFE-T Act, according to a report by the State Journal-Register.

At a press conference, Windhorst said that the SAFE-T Act, which was passed in 2021, was enacted by Democrats during a lame-duck session of the General Assembly, despite opposition from Republicans and pro-police groups.

"I was one of only two Republican legislators who Democrats allowed to ask questions of the SAFE-T Act sponsor before they shut off debate on the bill," Windhorst said, "Gov. Pritzker signed this law; now we're seeing the impact of this action."

According to Windhorst, who was accompanied at the press conference by Reps. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria), Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst), and House GOP Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), the SAFE-T Act has made Illinois a more dangerous place to live.

"People of our state deserve safety and the knowledge that criminals will be held accountable for their actions."

Windhorst and his fellow Republicans urged their Democratic colleagues to support them in their campaign to repeal the SAFE-T Act.

"Perhaps now with the grand jury unable to indict someone for murder whose actions led to a shooting death and citing the SAFE-T Act as a reasoning, maybe our friends on the other side of the aisle will heed our call," Windhorst stated.

However, Democrats argue that the Republicans' efforts are "all for show" as numerous SAFE-T Act provisions have not yet taken effect.

One such provision, which takes effect in January 2023, seeks to substitute cash bail with a pre-trial detention system that is based on a suspect's risk of endangering the public rather than their capacity to post bond.

Since its enactment, the SAFE-T Act has modified law enforcement's use-of-force guidelines, established a new police certification system and improved the rights of detainees.