State, local officials react to SAFE-T Act court ruling

PEORIA (25News Now) - State officials from both sides of the aisle are reacting to the Illinois Supreme Court’s Tuesday ruling to uphold the constitutionality of the controversial SAFE-T Act, ending cash bail in Illinois.

Gov. JB Pritzker released a statement saying he was pleased with the Court’s decision, adding, ”We can now move forward with historic reform to ensure pre-trial detainment is determined by the danger an individual poses to the community instead of by their ability to pay their way out of jail.”

Attorney General Kwame Raoul also released a statement saying he was pleased with the decision and that it will have a “positive impact within the state.”

Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch reacted via Twitter, calling the decision a “win for the people of this state” and saying that the criminal justice system can now “better protect victims and will no longer allow violent offenders to buy their way out of jail.