Metro East Sun

The SAFE-T Act continues to be a hot topic for Illinois politicians, law enforcement and citizens. 

The criminal justice reform bill, signed into law in January 2021 by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, has received major pushback from law enforcement, state’s attorneys, and state representatives. The SAFE-T Act intends to promote equitable due process, among other things, during the course of Illinois’ criminal justice process. Opposers of the act argue that it restricts the tools necessary for law enforcement, and the requirements stipulated, such as body cameras, may cause significant financial strain for many police departments. 

Will and Kankakee counties state’s attorneys filed lawsuits on Sept. 16, with complaints listing that the SAFE-T Act violates sections of the Illinois Constitution.

"Thanks to radical Democrats, thousands of dangerous criminals are about to be released onto our streets," Jennifer Korte, Republican candidate for state representative in the 112th District, said. "The SAFE-T Act, passed by Governor Pritzker and the Democrat majority, allows criminals to walk free before a trial can be held, regardless of their known danger to the community. Prosecutors will soon be forced to let criminals responsible for armed robberies, drug trafficking, and homicides off easy. Republican and Democrat State’s Attorneys are suing Governor Pritzker and IL Attorney General Kwami Raoul over the unconstitutional passing of this legislation. The SAFE-T Act needs to be repealed."

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow filed a lawsuit against the state, naming Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Speaker of the House Emanuel Welch, and Donald Harmon as defendants. The complaint argues that the SAFE-T Act violates numerous sections of the Illinois Constitution, including bills “shall be confined to one subject” and “[a] bill shall be read by title on three different days in each house…”

“It is my sworn duty as Will County’s State’s Attorney to protect the people of Will County and the State of Illinois. To put it in plain and simple terms, this is not about politics; it is about public safety,” Glasgow said in a press release on his office’s website.

Kankakee State’s Attorney Jim Rowe also filed a civil lawsuit naming Pritzker and Raoul as defendants asking that the SAFE-T Act be declared unconstitutional, according to The Daily Journal.

The Daily Journal reports that Pritzker provided them with a statement that called the lawsuit "a weak attempt to protect the status quo" allowing violent criminals to buy their freedom.

Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana weighed in when he uploaded a video to YouTube on Sept. 16, explaining how the current criminal justice system works and what changes to expect when the SAFE-T Act goes into effect. 

"Currently, our judges use an evidence-based process to determine if the alleged criminal defendant should be let out or should they be incarcerated during this time or before going to court," Caruana said. "This [current] system works. It’s not putting the community at risk. It's incarcerating the people that need to be incarcerated using metrics and tools that the judges use. [Under the SAFE-T Act]…There's a certain subsets of crimes that we're going to have to let out."

According to 97ZOK, the subset of crimes are aggravated battery, robbery, burglary, hate crimes, aggravated DUI, vehicular manslaughter, drug-induced homicide, drug offenses including trafficking and delivery of fentanyl, intimidation, kidnapping, second-degree murder, aggravated fleeing, and threatening a public official.

Caruana concluded his video by stating that the SAFE-T Act "is a failure." The sheriff expressed that he has tried to speak with the "authors of this bill" but "they are persisting to make this [allowing the SAFE-T Act to take full effect] happen."

Pritzker also recently defended the SAFE-T Act's elimination of cash bail, according to The Center Square. 

"We do not want someone in jail because they were arrested for a low-level crime like shoplifting to be sitting in jail for months or maybe even years," Pritzker said. "At the same time, someone who is a wealthy drug dealer, perhaps accused of murder and arrested, can show up with a suitcase full of money and get out of jail."

SafeWise's annual 2022 State of Safety survey found that only 42% of Illinois residents report feeling safe, while 64% report feeling "high daily concern" for their safety. Thirteen percent of respondents report experiencing gun violence firsthand, an increase from 8% the previous year. Mass shooting incidents in Illinois increased by 25% from 2020 to 2021.

Jennifer Korte is the Republican candidate for state representative in the 112th District. Korte describes herself as someone who believes “our government should be run by the people” and that “political office should not be a self-serving position.” Her primary goals in Springfield would be to lower taxes, be a leader in budget reform and fight for parental rights.