At an April 6 press conference, Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Moline) joined other Republican lawmakers in calling for the repeal for the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act.
“I can tell you from a lot more experience than I wish I had that I’m tired of seeing victims in the back of an ambulance and having to treat them and seeing the fear that they have after — whether it’s sexual assault, whether it’s child abuse or just random violence,” Anderson said at the press event. “It’s heartbreaking, and it's even more heartbreaking being that we have not had a seat at the table when it comes to a lot of these pieces of legislation.”
The SAFE-T Act was signed into law on Jan. 22, 2021. Among other measures, It focuses on the police use of force, complaints and misconduct, and rules regarding pretrial detention.
It also deals with police decertification and requires officers to cite and release individuals who perpetrate certain low-level offenses.
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has been given a variety of responsibilities under the law, including serving on the Pretrial Practices Data Oversight Board convened by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. As part of that board, it will be responsible for: Identifying existing pretrial data collection processes, defining, gathering, and maintaining records of pretrial data, and identifying resources necessary to collect and report data.
Supporters of the act told InJustice Watch they’ll continue standing with the act
“There has been pushback on this bill since the day it was passed,” Richard Wallace, founder of Equity and Transformation said to Injustice Watch. “Those voices aren’t going to go anywhere.”
Provisions related to the state records act will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. This will require law enforcement to release information about arrestees, including name, age, photograph, address, and information related to the arrest to the news media. This is only one of the provisions that go into effect next year.
Republicans have been the vocal against the act.
“Democrats in Illinois have repeatedly attacked our police and justice system,” House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Burr Ridge) said in a statement. “Today, they are trying to rewrite history. Until they wake up and repeal their pro-criminal SAFE-T Act, there will be no safe communities in Illinois.”
Anderson isn't alone in wanting the SAFE-T Act repealed. Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) announced his support for a bill that would repeal the SAFE-T Act in early March.
Alerts Sign-up