Six months after the full implementation of the cashless bail, and other provisions, of the Illinois SAFE-T Act, Illinois residents are finding themselves anything but safe.
House Republican Floor Leader and Republican ranking member on the House Judiciary Criminal Law and House Restorative Justice Committees Patrick Windhorst expressed concerns about the law, stating, "We opposed ending cash bail. We opposed anonymous complaints against police officers. We opposed the very nature of the way the bill was passed. Four attempts at trailer legislation still haven’t fixed the issues within the SAFE-T Act."
Windhorst further emphasized the impact of the end of cash bail, highlighting reports of individuals committing crimes, being released shortly after, and offending again while awaiting their court date. He stressed, "Illinoisans deserve to know that when a perpetrator commits a crime, they are going to be held accountable, and most certainly that they won’t be back out on the streets in just a matter of a few hours."
State Representative John Cabello echoed these sentiments, stating, "There is a concerning trend we see here in Illinois where criminals are treated better than law-abiding citizens and as leaders, we cannot continue to jeopardize the safety of our communities."
The concerns raised by House Republican legislators regarding the SAFE-T Act have been supported by headlines in Illinois news sources. Despite the implementation of the law, questions remain about its impact on public safety in the state.
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