SAFE-T RULING

Continued from page 3 and public defenders anticipate an increase in what Navarro described as “onerous” paperwork.

“All I can say is I’m disappointed it wasn’t held unconstitutional,” Navarro said. “But we will adapt and do what the law says. That’s my job.”

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) issued a statement Tuesday reminding voters she opposed the legislation, which was “passed in the middle of the night with little-to-no input from law enforcement, state’s attorneys and judges.”

In her statement, Rezin assailed the state’s top court for passing on the opportunity to reverse that error.

“The Illinois Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the SAFE-T Act in its entirety is disappointing,” Rezin said. “While I understand the movement to reform our cash bail system, there is a way to do that fairly while also better ensuring the public safety of our communities.”

In spring 2020, the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices endorsed bail reform, finding a defendant who can’t afford bail sees his or her life unravel within days –

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Best Pumpkin Recipe: First Kelley Larimer for pumpkin cheesecake squares, second Rosana Benson for pumpkin cheesecake

Best Apple Recipe: First Kelley Larimer for apple broccoli salad

Junior Chef Contest: First Garretson and Shaw Dean for chocolate hazelnut cookies, second Raylen Campbell for earth cookies and third Hadley Campbell for Lucky Charms cookies loss of a job, loss of child custody, health problems without access to medication. Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker issued a statement saying the reform ensures pre-trial detainment is determined by the danger an individual poses to the community instead of by their ability to pay their way out of jail.

Sen. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City), whose district includes La Salle, Livingston, Putnam and Bureau counties, joined his Republican colleague in criticizing the decision.

“Eliminating cash bail without providing judges with broad discretion to hold dangerous individuals pre-trial will decrease public safety and make it harder for law enforcement to keep violent criminals off the streets and out of our communities,” Bennett said.

Bennett fears the SAFE-T Act will drive people from serving in law enforcement.

“It is an ill-conceived rewrite of our state’s criminal justice system that puts criminals above law enforcement and public safety,” Bennett said. “We have already seen police officers and sheriffs leave to find new careers because of the SAFE-T Act. With the ruling today, I fear it will be harder to find individuals to fill those positions and keep our communities safe.”