THE ILLINOIZE: What's actually in that criminal justice law?...Tracy likely headed to new term leading GOP

August 17, 2022

Good morning, subscribers.

It’s Governor’s Day at the State Fair. The Illinois Democratic County Chair’s Association holds its annual brunch this morning at the Bank of Springfield Center in downtown Springfield.

In lieu of the traditional rally at the State Fair, there will be a “unity” event followed by a concert in the Director’s Lawn from country star Chris Young.

Darren Bailey’s campaign has not released a public schedule for the day.

I’ll be hosting our weekly Livestream and Podcast at noon on our YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter pages. We’ll talk with Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) and Chicago Magazine writer Ted McClelland, who has occasionally increased my blood pressure to near-record levels, so it should be fun. Join us at noon.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

WHAT’S ACTUALLY IN THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW?

There are few more controversial topics in state government than the January 1 rollout of a new criminal justice law that ends the long-standing cash bail system in Illinois. 

Multiple prosecutors and police groups have been raising alarms over the law, known informally as the SAFE-T Act. 

“The biggest problem I see with the law is that there are categories of offenses for which, even if the defendant is a real threat to the public, they cannot be detained based on the actual charge,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, a Republican.