McHenry Times

With Jan. 1 approaching, local governments in Illinois are taking action in response to the implementation of the SAFE-T Act.

DuPage and Kane County plan to raise taxes to fund mandates within the SAFE-T Act. In McHenry County, elected officials are fighting back against the SAFE-T Act and House Bill 3447. The county board recently passed two separate resolutions opposing House Bill 3447 and the SAFE-T Act at the request of the county’s delegation to the Illinois General Assembly.

“I’m pleased the McHenry County board took action on the nonsense coming out of Springfield," said State Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry). "There are several provisions in the SAFE-T Act that threaten the safety of McHenry County families, and the board resolution opposing it sends a distinct message to the Democrat sponsors and supporters of the legislation that they will not stand idly by and let a rogue political agenda place McHenry County lives in jeopardy.”

The SAFE-T Act is a controversial law passed by the Illinois legislature in January 2021 that deals with many aspects of criminal justice reform, including the banning of cash bail, prohibiting pre-trial detention for several crimes and increasing training and equipment requirements for police departments. The bill passed the General Assembly unanimously and the Senate by a 32-23 vote. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the bill a few days later.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) website states that the SAFE-T Act enacts extensive reform impacting many areas of the criminal justice system, including pre-arrest diversion, policing, pretrial, sentencing and corrections.

On Sept. 29, members of McHenry County’s delegation to the Illinois General Assembly requested the county’s Law and Government/Liquor Committee support their opposition to both the SAFE-T Act and House Bill 3447. The county board voted 14-6 to pass a resolution opposing House Bill 3447 and 13-8 to pass a separate resolution opposing the SAFE-T Act.

House Bill 3447 is another piece of criminal justice legislation which, among other reforms, will reduce the penalty for the possession of less than three grams of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from a felony to a misdemeanor.

“As public officials, it is our highest responsibility to protect the safety of our residents,” said County Board Chairman Mike Buehler (R-Crystal Lake). “By opposing the SAFE-T Act and House Bill 3447, McHenry County is sending a clear message to Springfield that we oppose legislation that could put criminals back on the streets and decriminalize illegal drugs in our community.”

Wilcox is the current state senator for the 32nd District, which encompasses much of McHenry County and the communities of McHenry, Woodstock, Antioch, Fox Lake, Ridgefield and others. Wilcox is running for re-election against Democrat Allena Barbato.