Chicago City Wire

State Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Chicago) said the elimination of cash bail will harm public safety.

"Ending cash bail in Illinois will put the safety of witnesses, victims, and communities at risk. Despite warnings from advocates, experts, and public safety officials, Democrats continue to push dangerous policies on the people of Illinois," Stephens posted on Facebook.

Radio station 97 ZOK ran a list circulating on the internet of offenses that allegedly will be considered "non-detainable": arson, burglary, aggravated battery, aggravated DUI, aggravated fleeing, drug-induced homicide, intimidation, kidnapping, robbery, threatening a public official, and second-degree murder.

However,  WFCN News reported that the Office of the Governor released graphics on Monday claiming that "there is no such thing as a non-detainable offense," and that defendents would be held "based on risk not riches."

Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently defended the elimination of cash bail, according to The Center Square. "We do not want someone in jail because they were arrested for a low-level crime like shoplifting to be sitting in jail for months or maybe even years," Pritzker said. "At the same time, someone who is a wealthy drug dealer, perhaps accused of murder and arrested, can show up with a suitcase full of money and get out of jail."

According to Capitol News Illinois, supporters of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, including the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, point to the legislation as a step toward making the justice system more equitable for minorities. Republicans have called the SAFE-T Act a "de facto defund the police bill" because of the additional regulations it places on police officers.

SafeWise's annual 2022 State of Safety survey found that only 42% of Illinois residents report feeling safe, while 64% reported feeling "high daily concern" for their safety. 13% of respondents reported experiencing gun violence firsthand, an increase from 8% the previous year. Mass shooting incidents in Illinois increased by 25% from 2020 to 2021.