Senator Curran, State's Attorneys Urge Repeal or Fix to SAFE-T Act

With just days remaining in the spring legislative session, State Senator John Curran (R-Downers Grove) and State's Attorneys Bob Berlin (R-DuPage County) and James Glasgow (D-Will County) are urging the Legislature to address major deficiencies within the SAFE-T Act that are set to take effect across Illinois on Jan. 1, 2023.

The SAFE-T Act was passed by Illinois Democrats during a lame-duck session of the Legislature in 2021 despite opposition from nearly every law enforcement organization in the state, and despite ongoing warnings from prosecutors and law enforcement that the provisions will make communities less safe.

Sen. Curran joined a group of Senators and several state's attorneys for a Capitol news conference on Wednesday, and said legislators cannot adjourn without fixing problematic provisions within the SAFE-T Act that will take effect before the next legislative session begins.

"As of January 1, we will see sweeping changes to our pre-trial detention system in Illinois," said Sen. Curran. "These changes will have a significant negative impact on our communities and place public safety at risk. Concerns have been raised by the highest court in this state, by many state's attorneys, by police chiefs and sheriffs throughout the state, and by many victims' advocacy groups. There are very serious and real implications this dangerous law is going to have if we don't address concerns regarding pre-trial detention and victims' rights."

While unable to attend the press conference, State's Attorney Bob Berlin issued the following statement:

"On January 1, 2023, public safety will be severely compromised when the Pre-Trial Fairness Act, a weak, new law championed as progress and signed by the Governor on February 22, 2021, goes into effect. This new, self-contradicting law however, will make our communities more dangerous. It is inconsistent in its detention requirements and imposes additional burdens on judges throughout the State, making it extremely difficult for judges to order pre-trial detention on virtually any defendant. Additionally, failure to appear in court, even when a defendant is released for a violent crime, has now been reduced to a misdemeanor offense. I urge the General Assembly to fully consider the true consequences of the Pre-Trial Fairness Act and take the necessary steps to remedy these and other deficiencies in the Act thus ensuring safety, fairness and justice for not only those accused, but for all people throughout Illinois."