The 21st Show

Reporters explain why the SAFE-T Act has not gone into effect

Produced by Christine Hatfield
 
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Capitol News Illinois

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The SAFE-T Act was a hot topic in Illinois for a significant part of last year. It’s the criminal justice reform package that, among many other provisions, eliminates the cash bail system in our state. That means for people who are charged with a crime, a judge would make the call on who can be released and who remains locked up while awaiting trial.

More than five dozen state’s attorneys across Illinois filed a lawsuit to stop the act from coming into force on New Year’s Day. That effort came to a head last week, when a Kankakee County judge ruled the law violates the state constitution. But that only affected the counties that joined in on the lawsuit… until the State Supreme Court stepped in on New Year’s Eve to stop the law until it can hear and rule on an appeal on the case.

We spent the first part of our show with some reporters from around the state to discuss the law, what might happen next, and what will change if the act ends up being enforced.

GUESTS:

Brian Moline

Managing Editor, Morning Edition Host, Illinois Public Media

Maria Gardner Lara

News Reporter, WNIJ

Carlos Ballesteros

Reporter, Injustice Watch

Edith Brady-Lunny

Court Correspondent, WGLT

 

 

Prepared for web by Owen Henderson

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