Sims: The SAFE-T Act is based on risk—not riches
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CHICAGO – State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. — the lead sponsor of the SAFE-T Act —released the following statement after the president falsely attacked Illinois’ nation-leading measure to end cash bail:
“The president’s misguided attacks on Illinois’ elimination of cash bail are par for the course. When he doesn’t want to answer for his administration’s mounting failures, he reverts to his usual playbook: distraction, denial and diversion.
Illinois is seeing positive results. According to the Illinois State Police, both violent and property crimes have decreased since the end of cash bail. The nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice also found no statistically significant link between bail reform and crime rates in its analysis of 33 cities, both with and without such reforms.
Peters responds to Washington’s bail reform myths, calls for honest leadership
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CHICAGO — In recent public remarks, the federal administration threatened to change statutes on cash bail in Illinois and Washington, D.C., accusing the SAFE-T Act and the end of cash bail of increasing crime rates in Chicago. To set the record straight on both the law and the facts, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) released the following statement:
“Once again, the federal administration is spreading dangerous misinformation – this time falsely claiming the end of cash bail in Illinois has led to rising crime rates across the state, particularly in Chicago, and that murderers are being released the same day they commit a crime. This could not be further from the truth.
“Not only are these claims blatantly wrong, they are intentionally misleading in order to spread fear. The truth is very simple: Illinois now prioritizes public safety over wealth. Under our state’s criminal justice system reform, individuals are detained or released based on whether they pose a risk to the community or are likely to flee – not on whether they can afford to foot the bill. That means someone with money doesn’t get a free pass, and someone without it isn’t jailed simply because they’re poor.
Read more: Peters responds to Washington’s bail reform myths, calls for honest leadership
Morrison-led Alicia’s Law strengthens protections against online child exploitation
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SPRINGFIELD — With the rise in digital communication among children, threats from online predators have become more frequent and sophisticated. To help law enforcement respond faster and more effectively, State Senator Julie Morrison’s new law expands the authority of Illinois State Police (ISP) to investigate and stop online child exploitation.
“Law enforcement should have every tool available to track down those who try to harm children,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This new law ensures Illinois State Police can work seamlessly with other agencies to pursue online predators, no matter where they’re located.”
The new law grants ISP’s Division of Criminal Investigation broader jurisdiction to pursue online child exploitation cases and work alongside local task forces across the state. It will usher in improved response times, close jurisdictional gaps and strengthen coordination between agencies working to protect children from digital threats. The measure is modeled off of Alicia’s Law, a national initiative that empowers specialized law enforcement units to track and prosecute predators who target children online.
Read more: Morrison-led Alicia’s Law strengthens protections against online child exploitation
Governor signs Feigenholtz initiative to remove hurdles for new teachers
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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Sara Feigenholtz championed a newly signed law strengthening Illinois’ efforts to address the teacher shortage by removing unnecessary hurdles that drive people away from becoming an educator.
“For years, parents and teachers in my district have been feeling the crunch of the teacher shortage,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “As we continue to equip our teachers with resources and support, we need to make sure they don’t face setbacks because of family or medical obligations.”
The law, originally Senate Bill 1584, comes in response to a local resident who took family and medical leave during her pregnancy when she was licensed under short-term approval. For many educators, including Feigenholtz’s constituent, short-term approval in a new subject area is a path to becoming a more versatile teacher who can teach more classes — but it typically only lasts three years.
Read more: Governor signs Feigenholtz initiative to remove hurdles for new teachers
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SPRINGFIELD — To reinforce the supportive role of the Department of Children and Family Services, State Senator Robert Peters led a new law to remove the agency’s authority to operate its own law enforcement agency. “Families who are in need of DCFS’ s... -
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