Illinois Becomes The First State To Pass "The Purge" Law

The law that is being passed in Illinois will be seen as making history. Illinois wants to be the first state in the US to abolish cash bail. Many people think the state could mirror the movie " The Purge" if a law were passed. citizens were given 24 hours to commit crimes

The SAFE-T Act will take effect in Illinois on January 1st of 2023. The act will end the cash bail system. SAFE-T stands for safety, accountability, fairness, and equity today. Those that instated the act believe it will reduce the number of people arrested.

Non-Detainable Offenses

Cash bail would no longer be allowed for 12 non-detained offenses under the new law. Second-degree murder, drug-induced homicide, robbery, kidnapping, and other crimes are included in the law.

There is an increase in violent crime. There is still time to fix it. For the last year and a half, the state's attorneys have worked very hard to fix the law. Robert Berlin, the state's attorney, said that it is possible to eliminate cash bail but still make sure the right people are in custody.

The Safe-T Act would allow criminals to be released prior to trial. If prosecutors don't show clear and convincing evidence that the alleged could be a threat to someone. The consequences of the Safe-T Act make it harder to deal with criminals quickly. 48 hours is enough time for prosecutors to decide if the alleged criminal should be freed. 48 hours isn't enough time for investigators to collect valuable evidence

Reason For SAFE-T Act

Let's take a look at how this came about. Many people have called for the abolition of the cash bail system in the US. Out of five people in jail, three have not been convicted of a crime. Half a million people are wasted in jail cells before a trial because of the lack of investigation and research.

According to the Center For American Progress, the cash bail system is criminalizing poverty. Most in jail can't afford the bail and have to wait a long time for a trial. Communities of color are most affected by this system because of the high odds against them.

According to the institute, studies show that a person's likelihood of rearrest after release can increase.