Republicans want a special session to amend parts of Safe-T Act

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the state law ending cash bail is constitutional.

Democrats have voiced approval of the court’s decision, but Republicans have spoken out against the ruling since its release Tuesday morning.

With cash bail ending on September 18th, Republicans say this provision will endanger Illinois residents, but they hope to make changes to the law before then.

In just two months, people who are arrested will no longer pay bail to get out of jail. If a person is deemed dangerous to the public or a flight risk, a judge can order them to be jailed until their trial. 100 out of 102 Illinois state's attorneys were against this provision.

“Law enforcement, judges, state attorneys, they all warned about this," Republican State Senator Neil Anderson said. "They all said it was a bad idea, yet here we are.”

But Republicans say there’s a chance to make changes to the law.

“But the court has given us a window, 60 days before implementation, to really address the remaining concerns with this law," Senate Minority Leader John Curran said.

Senate Minority Leader John Curran is calling for a special legislative session to address issues with the Safe-T Act before September 18th.

Curran says that the range of crimes that a judge can hold a person in jail for is too narrow and it needs to be expanded.

“We are handcuffing judges," Curran said. "Simple burglary, that is something that is left out of the detention yet with this law."

Money from cash bail is used to fund police departments. Eliminating those funds could hurt smaller communities.

“Other components of the Safe-T Act put on more cost on local counties and law enforcement offices," Curran said. "You combine that [with] an under-resourced criminal justice system, [that] will lead to bad outcomes.”

Curran is hoping the legislature can work together to make amendments and address concerns people have about ending cash bail in Illinois.

"Let’s bring law enforcement officials in," Curran said about inviting law enforcement to the desired special session. "Let’s get to the concerns that they still have regarding this act even after several amendments and button this up before it goes into effect. Better to do that now than after the fact when we are seeing bad outcomes around the state."

Curran said that he does not have the authority to call a special session. It can be called on by the governor or if the Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the House call for one.

Illinois is the first state in the nation to end cash bail completely.