Crime is perhaps the top issue for Illinois voters this year and the extraordinarily divisive SAFE-T Act is central to it.
The 764-page bill makes many highly controversial changes to Illinois criminal law and procedure. With little or no debate, it was passed by the state Senate at 4 a.m. on the last day of a lame duck legislative session and passed by the state House less than 24 hours later.
Most contentious among its effects is the end of the cash bail system and changes to standards for pre-trial detention that would make it more difficult for prosecutors to detain arrested defendants. Supporters say that would reduce class and racial unfairness in the system while opponents claim dangerous criminals would walk free. Most of the new law will become effective on January 1.
The controversy has been blurred by the complexity of the bill as well as misunderstandings and exaggeration from both sides. Most voters are surely perplexed, and understandably so. We, too, have been delayed in trying to write a fair summary of the bill, though we think it’s clear, at a minimum, that certain major changes are essential.
Both sides now acknowledge that at least some changes are needed to the law. Gov. JB Pritzker has said that “changes and adjustments” to the law are needed. Bills that would amend the law are already pending in the General assembly, some sponsored by Democrats. Attorney General Kwame Raoul also acknowledged he has concerns about potential ambiguities in the law and spoke of the need to discuss clarifying some provisions.
The changes will be addressed after the election, we are told.
But will those changes be significant or mere “tweaks”?
And why should voters have to wait until after the election to find out?
“The Democrats are working every day with advocates, with law enforcement, to make sure that if there needs to be tweaks, we will tweak them before January,” said Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago), a strong supporter of the law.
Tweaks, however, won’t satisfy critics. They include 100 of Illinois’ 102 county state’s attorneys who have petitioned in opposition to the law, at least five of which have sued to stop the law from going into effect. Darren Bailey, Pritzker’s opponent for governor, wants the law entirely repealed, as do many critics.
Pritzker can call a special session at any time. Illinoisans on both sides deserve to know where he and every member of the General Assembly stand on what they see as an exceptionally important piece of legislation — perhaps their most important issue in the election.
Nobody can trust vague talk about “changes needed” after the election.
Call a special session, Gov. Pritzker. You and the General Assembly must tell Illinois where you stand, with deeds, not vague words.