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The measure has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks,
despite being passed in the final hours of the previous Illinois
General Assembly that ended in January 2021. Alongside a host of
regulations on police activity, the law set to take effect Jan.
1, 2023, also does away with cash bail for a host of offenses.
During a Springfield City Council meeting this week, city
officials heard from lobbyist Art Turner about expectations that
lawmakers will return in the fall session as early as the week
after the Nov. 8 election to address various issues.
“It’s a lot around implementation, there’s just no real clarity
around that and all parties on both sides are able to agree to
that point,” Turner said. “I believe that that will be one of
the top priorities for the veto session in November or scheduled
early December. Then, we’re going to have to work really fast to
bring our local clerks and courts and counties up to speed on
the adjustments that I anticipate to be made behind it.”
The measure has come under increased scrutiny as members of law
enforcement raise concerns over no cash bail. At least two state
attorneys have sued to stymie the law’s implementation.
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, has been
critical of the measure that ends cash bail across the entire
state. He said Democrats may come back after the November
election to “nibble around the edges.”
“They’ve gone back at it three times and [Gov. J.B. Pritzker]
says we have to revisit it again,” Durkin told WMAY. “I don’t
know how many more times within this short amount of time but
can’t they at least acknowledge that this has been a mistake?
Why don’t we start over again?”
State Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, who advocates for the law,
acknowledged some changes are needed to clarify its
implementation. But, he said all parties need to come together
in good faith.
“The Democrats are working every day with advocates, with law
enforcement to make sure that if there needs to be tweaks, we
will tweak them before January,” Ford said. “But we will not
roll back the entire SAFE-T Act."
Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Springfield the week after
the Nov. 8 election.
Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and
other issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of
award-winning broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning
Newsfeed out of Springfield.
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