South Cook News

As the race for U.S. House in Illinois' 6th District reaches peak intensity, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau (R) has delivered harsh criticism of the SAFE-T Act.

"In the dead of night, legislators in Springfield passed the so-called 'SAFE-T' Act, putting communities across Illinois in danger," Pekau said in a Sept. 7 Facebook post. "The SAFE-T Act makes law enforcement's job tougher, makes our communities less safe and makes criminals' lives a heck of a lot easier. This fall, we have an opportunity to hold our elected officials accountable and send a message to Springfield and Washington D.C.: The American people support law enforcement. Let's make sure they know that."

As a step toward making the justice system more equitable for minorities, the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act is supported by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, according to Capitol News Illinois. Since the SAFE-T Act places additional regulations on police officers, Republicans have called it a "de facto Defund the Police." Critics claim that the SAFE-T will lead to more criminals on the streets by eliminating cash bail in Illinois starting on Jan. 1, 2023.

Mayor Keith Pekau | Keith Pekau for Mayor

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) recently defended the elimination of cash bail, according to The Center Square.

"We do not want someone in jail, because they were arrested for a low-level crime like shoplifting, to be sitting in jail for months or maybe even years," Pritzker told The Center Square. "At the same time, someone who is a wealthy drug dealer, perhaps accused of murder and arrested, can show up with a suitcase full of money and get out of jail."

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the SAFE-T Act allows prisoners who are on home confinement, awaiting trial, to move freely two days a week, without electronic monitoring. During this time, defendants may search for employment, attend school, receive treatment for a drug addiction or mental illness, or shop for groceries. Cook County arrested about two dozen people during their "essential movement" days in the first three months of 2022. 

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart (D) has called for an end to the "essential movement" provision.

“At a bare minimum, they should say, ‘If you’re charged with a violent offense, and you’re given home monitoring, you don’t get to wander around free for two days a week'," he told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Pekau won the Republican nomination for Illinois' 6th Congressional District seat in June, according to Ballotpedia. He will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove) in November.