Kankakee, IL – Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey is urging Illinois lawmakers to repeal and rewrite the state’s SAFE-T Act, arguing the law has undermined public safety and limited judges’ discretion to detain dangerous offenders.
In a statement released today, Downey said the controversial criminal justice reform, which eliminated cash bail statewide in 2023, has produced “predictable tragedy.” He claimed the legislation has allowed repeat offenders to cycle through the system and called the law “a disaster” that ignored warnings from law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges.
According to the sheriff’s office, Downey criticized the act’s “non-detainable offenses” list, saying it prevents judges from holding individuals who pose a community threat. “A system that lets dangerous offenders walk free isn’t suffering from a typo — it’s suffering from leadership malpractice,” the release stated.
Downey urged lawmakers to restore full judicial discretion, eliminate non-detainable categories, and reinstate monetary bond, arguing that “money bail isn’t perfect, but it creates accountability.”
The SAFE-T Act, signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2021, was designed to reform policing and pretrial detention standards in Illinois, aiming to reduce jail populations and promote fairness. Supporters have said the law ensures that detention decisions are based on risk, not income.
Downey, who serves as 2nd Vice President of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association, said he and other sheriffs remain “ready to assist” state leaders in rewriting the law.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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