Will County Gazette

Adam M. Beaty, a candidate for Illinois House District 80, emphasized the importance of focusing on public safety, opposing measures such as cashless bail, and avoiding restrictions on judicial discretion. He made these remarks during an interview.

"The state legislature should have the safety and general welfare of the public in mind at all times," said M. Beaty. "The legislature should not write legislation specifically geared toward giving criminals any benefit, such as cashless bail. Laws should not be written that restrict judicial discretion such as the SAFE-T Act. Execute branch enforces the law, legislative writes the law, and the judicial branch interprets the law."

The Illinois SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail statewide in September 2023, has been at the center of a heated debate regarding its effects on public safety. Supporters argue that the reform helps reduce unfair pretrial detention, while critics express concerns about the potential release of dangerous offenders. The controversy intensified in August 2025 following a federal order targeting jurisdictions with "cashless bail," drawing national attention to Illinois.

According to Capitol News Illinois, since the implementation of the SAFE-T Act's bail reforms, crime data indicate minimal changes. Researchers at Loyola University Chicago found that statewide jail populations have slightly decreased, failure-to-appear rates remained relatively stable (17% before versus approximately 15% after), and there was no evidence of a crime surge within the first six months.

Illinois is currently the only state to have fully abolished cash bail, although other states have limited its use. New Jersey largely eliminated it in 2017 in favor of risk-based detention, while Washington D.C. has long employed non-financial release systems. Reviews of these models suggest that defendants continue to appear in court and crime rates remain stable.

Beaty was born in Hinsdale, Illinois in 1986 and grew up in Bolingbrook, Naperville, and Plainfield. With a passion for history and politics, he advanced through Illinois YMCA’s Youth and Government program before serving as a student senator at the University of Illinois Springfield. After college, he pursued a career in law enforcement while remaining active in state and local politics. Elected Reed Township Trustee in 2021, Beaty ran for the Illinois House in 2022 and is now campaigning for office again.

Illinois House District 80 encompasses parts of Cook and Will counties and includes communities such as Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Matteson, and Park Forest. According to Statistical Atlas, the district has a population of about 109,600 people; it lies within Senate District 40 and overlaps several congressional districts. Key issues include property tax burdens, crime concerns linked to public safety debates, and reliance on industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and education.