Will County Gazette

Illinois state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) has expressed concerns over the impending end to the cash bail system in the Prairie State, arguing that communities and law enforcement will be put at risk.

Starting Jan. 1, 2023, crimes including arson, burglary, aggravated battery, aggravated DUI, aggravated fleeing, drug-induced homicide, intimidation, kidnapping, robbery, threatening a public official, and 2nd degree murder will be considered "non-retainable." That means people charged with those offenses will be released into the public without bail, according to 97 ZOK.

"If we want to ensure every neighborhood across Illinois is a safe place to live then we cannot ignore warnings from law enforcement officials and public safety experts," Batinick wrote in a Sept. 14 Facebook post. "Ending cash bail is dangerous for residents, police, witnesses, and victims of crime."

Last month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) defended the decision to eliminate cash bail.

"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, according to the Center Square. "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."

Those who supported the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, including The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, believe the legislation was a step toward making a fairer justice system for minorities, Capitol News Illinois reported.

Republicans, however, believe the law was a "de facto defund the police bill," due largely to the increased regulations it placed on those tasked with enforcing the law, according to Capitol News Illinois.

According to Fox News, Illinois is the first state to shift toward eliminating cash bail. All but two of Illinois' 102 state's attorneys are opposed to the legislation, the Madison Record reported.