State's Attorney Hears a Decision on the SAFE-T Act Could Come Soon

(AARON JONES)

Effingham County State's Attorney Aaron Jones told the Effingham County Board Monday that a ruling on the SAFE-T Act by the Illinois Supreme Court could be coming soon.

The SAFE-T Act, among its many provisions, would all but eliminate cash bail in the state. That has led to concerns over how arrests will be administered. Defendants could be detained for certain offenses or if they would be judged a flight risk or a danger to the public.

Jones' information came from his attendance at a state's attorney's conference last week. Jones said the information from those better tied into the legislative process is that the high court could make its ruling "in the next month or two", although nothing is definite in that regard.

There is also no word as to the effective date of the legislation, if it is upheld. 

The SAFE-T Act was passed in 2021 and had an effective date of January 1, 2023. That effective date was later delayed just before it was implemented while the matter was appealed to the Supreme Court.

Jones' information came at a meeting of the county board's Legislative Committee, but all Board members were on hand as the committee meets as a Committee of the Whole. Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns said at the same meeting that they had a plan in place to address the issue when it originally was to go into effect, and will again should the high court uphold the Act.