Chicago City Wire

Illinois Democrats passed the SAFE-T Act last year that was detrimental to law enforcement, but now that it's an election year they have proposed a pro-law enforcement bill package, State Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont) said on Facebook.

"Just last year Illinois Democrats passed the SAFE-T Act despite warnings from law enforcement officials that it would make their jobs even more difficult and jeopardize public safety," the legislator said. "Now it's an election year, crime is on the rise, and Illinois Democrats are scrambling to fund the police again." 

Stephens and other Illinois Republicans have called for repeal of the SAFE-T Act and put forth legislation that would do so, a recent report from the Chicago City Wire said. But Democrats do not want to repeal the legislation and have accused GOP lawmakers of using "scare tactics" when discussing crime in Illinois. 

The Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act eliminates cash bail by 2023, provides certain individuals accused of felonies to not have to be detained before trial, and puts restrictions on Illinois police officers; a release by the nonprofit group Injustice Watch said. Police unions and law enforcement groups have called the SAFE-T Act legislation a threat to pubic safety.

Illinois Democrats recently unveiled a bill package aimed at supporting law enforcement and first responders, a WAND report said. The proposals include additional funding for mental health services for first responders, funding for police officer recruiting and training, extra body camera video storage and pension reform. 

GOP lawmakers continue to push for repealing the SAFE-T Act and consider the new Democratic bill package to be "an election year stunt."

"Some of the stuff is really disingenuous by the Democrats, who have voted against our police for several years now, and now when they're up for what could be a serious election, they're coming out with these quote unquote 'police bills,'" Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) told WAND.             

In the first three months of 2022, Chicago experienced 508 shootings and 128 homicides, a recent report from the Chicago Tribune said. Carjackings in 2022 are up 3% compared to this time in 2021.