Kane County Reporter

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed policies that ended Illinois Judges’ ability to set cash bails before a defendant’s first court appearance, a victory for criminal reform and negatively grabbed Republican attention.

“Constituents are particularly worried about criminal offenses that will, as of January 1, be considered ‘non-detainable,’” Sen. Don DeWitte said. “People have legitimate concerns, and we need to pump the breaks on implementation so the long list of unintended consequences tied to the Act can be addressed.”

Interestingly, Pulitzer Center reported the same bill requires the Illinois Law Enforcement and Training Standards Board to maintain data about statewide police misconduct — but will only show it via Freedom of Information Act requests per agency. The center added there are approximately 900 agencies in Illinois.

As of Jan. 1, the following offenses will be considered “non-detainable”: arson, burglary, aggravated battery, aggravated DUI, aggravated fleeing, drug-induced homicide, intimidation, kidnapping, robbery, threatening a public official, and 2nd-degree murder. People who are charged with those crimes will be released without bail.  

KHQA reported Christopher Sullivan, the chief of police for the city of Aldeo, got indicted for battery and official misconduct, Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigations noted to KHQA.

Gov. Pritzker recently defended the 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.”

ACLU reported studies showed people are more likely to take plea deals and plea guilty to crimes they didn’t commit because they couldn’t afford bail.

Supporters of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, including the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, point to the legislation as a step toward making the justice system more equitable for minorities. Republicans have called the SAFE-T Act a “de facto defund the police bill” because of the additional regulations it places on police officers.

The State Journal-Register reported that the bill will require all police agencies to have their officers wear body cameras and to be turned on in uniform and responding to a call.