PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria isn’t really giving an opinion just yet on all the controversy and confusion surrounding the cashless bail and pre-trial release provisions of the state’s “SAFE-T Act” — passed in 2021 but parts of which don’t take effect until January.
But Echevarria does tell the Peoria City Council there remain plenty of unanswered questions.
“There are a lot of meetings we’ve been in…as Peoria Police Department, with the State’s Attorney, other sheriffs, with other State’s Attorneys from around the State; there’s the advocate sides for the SAFE-T Act, along with the State’s Attorney, the Sheriffs, and the chiefs,” said Echevarria. “There is still a lot of dialogue. I think what we’ll see…is some trailer bills in the near future. This will be pushed off, is what I believe is going to happen.”
In short, Echevarria doesn’t believe the legislation will take effect as is, but no matter what happens, he says Peoria Police will continue to do their jobs.
“We’ve not received any guidance on (implementation of the act) at this point,” said Echevarria. “We’re waiting for guidance, just like every other agency in the state.”
At least one member of the City Council doesn’t like the cashless bail and pre-trial release provisions.
“We have been told that there’s going to be even further changes. These are going to have to be made, in my opinion, on or before the First of January, 2023, to have maximal impact,” said Council Member Chuck Grayeb, Dist. 2. “Otherwise, we’ll be rolling out a law that is imperfect and not ready for primetime.”
While other state’s attorneys and municipalities are filing suit to block that provision of the SAFE-T Act from taking effect, including the Tazewell County State’s Attorney, legislation is being introduced in Springfield ahead of the fall veto session changing or clarifying some of the act’s provisions. Council members this week learned they’ll hear in December from State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth and State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos — that’s after the fall veto session.
In the meantime, “This is a very fluid situation, a very involving situation,” said Council Member Andre Allen, Dist. 4. “Be careful what you read online. Be careful what you read on the ‘book of faces.’ Make sure that you are using credible sources, just to make sure that you know the facts and we’re not creating unwarranted hysteria.”
No City Council action was taken, other than to receive a presentation Tuesday night on the SAFE-T Act.
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