Kane County Reporter

Candidate for state representative for House District 49 Kevin Wallace has concerns about the SAFE-T Act. 

"As the Village President of Bartlett for almost a decade, I bear the responsibility to ensure my citizens feel safe in our community every single day,” Wallace said in a statement. “I understand the intention behind some of the initiatives of the Safe-T Act, but we must realize this hastily designed bill does not meet the high standards necessary to keep our citizens safe."

Wallace said if elected he would work to repeal the act.

"On January 1, 2023, this law will be fully implemented, yet it still does not have any law enforcement support save State's Attorneys Kim Foxx in Chicago and Eric Rinehart in Lake County," Wallace said. "I vow to work as hard as I can to repeal this law and start working collaboratively for sensible solutions to keep our families safe.”

The bill requires courts to increase the processing speed of those awaiting trial, Will County Gazette reported. Opponent say if it goes into effect as planned, the SAFE-T Act will result in the release of those charged with robbery, kidnapping, arson, second-degree murder, intimidation, aggravated battery, aggravated DUI, aggravated flight, drug-related homicide and threatening a public official.

Almost all of the state’s attorneys across Illinois, 100 of 102, are in support of abolishing or changing the act,  according to the Madison-St. Clair Record.

Wallace also noted his concerns earlier this month in a Facebook post. “The concerns from law enforcement regarding the elimination of cash bail on January 1 continue to flood in from all over the state,” he wrote. “If one of the only State's Attorneys who supports this policy is Kim Foxx, then you should know that it’s a problem.”

Wallace is facing incumbent Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-West Chicago) in November's general election.