The SAFE-T Act strives to reduce the number of people in jail | Shutterstock
The SAFE-T Act strives to reduce the number of people in jail | Shutterstock
Krystyna Vela, a candidate for the Illinois State Senate in the 40th district, is critical of recent changes to the Illinois SAFE-T act.
New language in the criminal justice reform law now requires that criminal defendants who are in home confinement awaiting trial shall be allowed at least two days a week to be out in the public without being monitored. The law states that while out during these times they are to be working, job searching, undergoing treatment for mental illness or drug addiction, attending school, or grocery shopping
"The recently added provisions of the Illinois SAFE-T Act are dangerous to society and a slap in the face to our men and women in law enforcement who will now have an even more difficult time keeping our neighborhoods and families safe," Vela said.
According to recent findings by the Chicago Sun-Times, "dozens of people in home confinement have gotten into trouble while free of supervision during those “essential movement” days when they aren’t monitored" since this law came into effect on January 1st, 2022.
"The provision to this already completely absurd law needs to be repealed along with the rest of the entire SAFE-T Act," Vela said. "The friends I have in law enforcement are all completely against this law and I stand with them in calling for the repeal of the SAFE-T Act, which ironically makes our neighborhoods more unsafe and has created a more unsafe environment for our men and women in law enforcement. "
Illinois Republicans are calling for the repeal of the SAFE-T Act, Capitol News Illinois reported.
According to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the SAFE-T Act was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Jan. 22, 2021.
The Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity Today (SAFE-T) Act implements sweeping reform impacting many aspects of the criminal justice system, including pre-arrest diversion, policing, pretrial, sentencing, and corrections. Many provisions of the Act take were effective July 1, 2021.
More information about Vela's platform can be found on her campaign website: https://www.krystynaforillinois.com/
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