WEST CENTRAL – Greene and Scott Counties have joined the ever-growing number of Illinois Counties to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the controversial SAFE-T Act. The SAFE-T Act, set to take effect January 1, 2023, eliminates cash bail and designates only a limited number of offenses for which the person arrested may be held in custody prior to trial. The complaints, filed by both Caleb Briscoe in Greene County, and Richard Crews in Scott County seek a permanent injunction of the SAFE-T Act claiming the Act is unconstitutional, that it violates the single subject rule, violates the separation of powers clause, is unconstitutionally vague, and violated the three (3) readings requirement. The goal of the lawsuit for the Counties would be to stop the law, as written, from going into effect on January 1, 2023. “The Act was voted on and passed in a lame duck legislative session at 4:30 in the morning, with limited opportunity for comment, or debate. Prosecutors,
Continue Reading