SAFE-T Act

SAFE-T Act, technology and retirements have an affect on court system, Chief Judge Daniel Kennedy says in State of Courthouse speech

An appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of a state law that would end cash bail appears to be at least two months away from resolution under a new timeline approved by the court Thursday.

The much debated SAFE-T Act will not take effect anywhere in Illinois on Jan. 1 after a state Supreme Court order issued Saturday.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has appealed a Kankakee County judge's ruling that cashless bail is unconstitutional. His office also criticized "11th hour theatrics" by some prosecutors and sheriffs in Illinois to prevent the SAFE-T Act from going into effect.

The elimination of cash bail set to take effect Jan. 1 will no longer be happening in McHenry County, the county’s chief judge and top prosecutor said.

McCombie said Republicans have “loudly and consistently” expressed their concerns about the SAFE-T Act.

The chief judge in Kankakee County weighing the SAFE-T Act lawsuit case had concluded the "appropriateness of bail rests with the authority of the court and may not be determined by legislative fiat."

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a follow-up measure to the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform, the third such amendment since the law’s initial passage in January 2021.

Lawmakers on Thursday passed a long-awaited amendment to the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform’s provisions that will eliminate cash bail when the calendar hits 2023.

Two days before lawmakers were scheduled to adjourn for the year, one of the lead negotiators of the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform filed a long-awaited amendment detailing several changes to the landmark cash bail overhaul.

The speaker is Sarah Staudt, senior policy director for the Appleseed Lawyers for Fair Courts, who has spent years developing the legislation.

Illinois legislators have one more chance to finalize the criminal justice overhaul known as the SAFE-T Act. Major portions take effect Jan. 1 and lawmakers have three more days in their fall session to clarify the massive plan.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, who recently announced he has the support for another term as House speaker, says he looks forward to governing with an even larger supermajority than he had during his first two years.

Senate Minority Leader-elect John Curran will take over a caucus that’s more than doubled in size by the majority-party Democrats.His goal: “Bring balance to state government.”

The McHenry County Board approved raising its portion of residents' property taxes, which will add about $14 onto a $7,000 bill.