SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Republican lawmakers in Illinois are somewhat pleased with a Kankakee County judge declaring the cashless bail provisions of the SAFE-T Act unconstitutional — just days before the rule would have taken effect.
Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, at a news conference in Springfield Thursday, says there should either be delay in implementation of the law, or new negotiations, or just wait for the appeals process.
“We have [64] counties that are affected by this; and we now will have, if nothing is done between now and January first, there will be unequal application of this law throughout the State of Illinois. That is not right. It’s not responsible,” said Durkin (R-Western Springs).
Durkin says if there are new negotiations and tweaks to the SAFE-T Act, all parties need to be involved — especially State’s Attorneys.
“We are here now with potential chaos that may ensue beginning January 1,” said Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis). “We will have counties throughout the state which will have a cash bail system, and counties throughout the state which will not have a cash bail system, or it will be eliminated.”
Republicans are calling on a stay to be issued while the law is worked out.
