State Representative Bradley Fritts (IL) | Representative Bradley Fritts (R) 74th District
State Representative Bradley Fritts (IL) | Representative Bradley Fritts (R) 74th District
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the veto session in Springfield, where important legislative issues will be addressed. Rep. Fritts expresses hope for collaboration during this session to pass sound legislation for the people of Illinois.
In the spirit of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, Rep. Fritts highlights the importance of staying safe online. "Use strong passwords, turn on multifactor authentication, recognize and report phishing attempts, and update software regularly," advises Fritts, emphasizing the need to protect personal information from cyber scams.
One significant legislative change in Illinois is the elimination of cash bail as a condition of pre-trial release. However, early reports indicate concerns among prosecutors regarding this policy. McHenry County's top prosecutor, State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally, described the situation in court on the day the law took effect as 'absurd' and 'incoherent.' Kenneally provides examples of people charged with serious crimes who were released due to the new law, including individuals charged with murder and drug-induced homicide. He expresses his worry that 22 of the worst criminals in McHenry County have all petitioned to be set free until their trials.
The new Pretrial Fairness Act, part of the SAFE-T Act, requires judges to decide within 48 hours whether a person should be held in jail. Non-violent offenders are given a notice to appear at their court date and released. This change has required law enforcement agencies to familiarize themselves with the new law, stretching resources thin across the state.
The strain on resources is evident in McLean County, where an assistant state's attorney dedicated at least 1,000 hours to studying and teaching a prosecutor's team about the Pretrial Fairness Act. In DuPage County, a man charged with breaking into a high-end boutique shop was released from custody pending trial, despite being on parole for armed robbery and aggravated battery in Cook County. State's Attorney Robert Berlin highlights this case as an illustration of a deficiency in the new law.
The elimination of cash bail has also revealed challenges in rural counties, where more than half of Illinois' 102 counties lack a full-time public defender. Limited court hours, shortage of court reporters, and small state's attorney's offices pose additional obstacles. Budgets will be strained as additional staff may need to be hired in many areas to meet the demands of the new law.
In addition to addressing these pressing issues, Rep. Fritts encourages constituents in District 74 to complete the 2023 Legislative Survey. The survey aims to better understand the unique needs and challenges of the district and inform Rep. Fritts' legislative priorities. It covers various policy areas, including gun bans and tax increases, to gather feedback on the most important issues to constituents.
Rep. Fritts concludes by inviting constituents to stay updated through his Facebook page and e-newsletter, where he will share information about his efforts to pass bills in Springfield and serve the district.
To learn more, click on this link: https://repfritts.com/2023/10/23/legislative-updates-from-rep-fritts-11/
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