(The Center Square) – Changes to the SAFE-T Act, which ends cash bail statewide starting on January 1, are now law and a ruling in a lawsuit against the act could be made at the end of this month.
The original measure was narrowly approved in early January 2021.
While some of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act is already in effect, the end of cash bail through the Pretrial Fairness Act was slated to start January 1, just three weeks away.
Last week during veto session, state lawmakers approved some changes that law enforcement agencies said were needed to keep violent offenders held pretrial, among other substantive changes.
Through a news release Tuesday evening, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced he signed the amendments into law.
Pritzker acknowledged on Wednesday that the original law he signed was flawed.
“Let’s make sure everybody, judges, state’s attorneys, sheriffs, et cetera, understand these provisions so maybe we need to write them in a way that’s much clearer and it has a little more detail to it,” Pritzker said at an unrelated event.
The changes lay out a series of serious crimes like murder, arson and kidnapping where a suspect can be held pre-trial.
It also clarifies police can arrest individuals for trespassing, but only after a citation is issued and the individual continues to violate.
Another change lays out a process allowing people held pretrial on eligible crimes before cash bail is abolished to request pretrial release hearings.
“So I’m glad to be able to get that done,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker was asked how he will gauge if the end of cash bail is a success story.
“We’ll be looking to the [Illinois Supreme Court], they obviously are monitoring this well for us and talking to state’s attorneys and asking what the real challenges are that they’re facing,” Pritzker said. “But a lot of that has been addressed in this amendment to the law.”
The Illinois Supreme Court has been involved with educating local law enforcement and courts about implementing the Pretrial Fairness Act.
The supreme court may be asked to get involved in determining if the Pretrial Fairness Act is constitutional.
Dozens of state’s attorneys and sheriffs have filed a lawsuit against the end of cash bail.
The challenge will be heard in Kankakee County Circuit Court on December 20.
It is expected a ruling will follow the week after and the Illinois Supreme Court may have to weigh in on an appeal.