WHAT IS HAPPENING ON JANUARY 1, 2023, IN ILLINOIS?

As per Rockford Register Star, on January 1, 2023, around 400 criminal defendants will be released back into the community due to the Safe-T Act which was passed in 2020.With the law finally coming into action, people have been left confused as to how they can maintain their safety.

WHAT IS THE SAFE-T ACT?
The outlet notes that under the law, acts such as “aggravated batteries, robberies, burglaries, hate crimes, aggravated DUIs, vehicular homicide, drug-induced homicides, all drug offenses, including delivery of fentanyl and trafficking cases, are not eligible for detention unless the people prove by clear and convincing evidence the person has a high likelihood of willful flight to avoid prosecution.”

At the same time, cases such as armed robbery or murder may see a defendant being detained by the judge only if there is clear evidence that the defendant “poses a real and present threat to the safety of a specific, identifiable person or persons.”