After litigation delaying its implementation, the full provisions of Illinois’ SAFE-T Act went into effect on Sept. 18. Here’s what to expect.
Illinois is the first state to abolish cash bail statewide, but what will that mean for crime?
The end of cash bail
After litigation delayed its full implementation, Illinois’ SAFE-T Act went into full effect Sept. 18 by order of the Illinois Supreme Court. Before then, all those arrested, regardless of offense, would be taken to a judge to determine the cash bail amount needed for the defendant to go free until trial.
The Pretrial Fairness Act portion of the SAFE-T Act changed the law by limiting the possibility of pretrial detention to defendants charged with felonies who pose a real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons or the community and those fulfilling one of eight categories of offenses and meeting the corresponding standard of threat to people or possibly the community. These include crimes such as stalking and weapons charges.
A prosecutor will now be required to file a petition for a defendant’s pretrial detention showing clear and convincing evidence the defendant committed the alleged offense and meets the standard of threat required to deny pretrial release for that offense. Any other offenders will be issued a summons to appear within 21 days.
What happens now?
Find out here.
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