Dennis Tipsword, a Republican Illinois state representative for the 105th District, has called for an expansion of detainable offenses under the SAFE-T Act. This move aims to provide prosecutors with greater latitude in seeking pretrial detention.
“I think first and foremost, we have to start with a broader list of detainable offenses,” said Tipsword, State Representative from Illinois. “We have to have a wider list of those charges so we can start down that road that way. Then that gives the state’s attorney, the prosecutor, more latitude to go after detention, and we can start there.”
The SAFE-T Act, which includes the Pretrial Fairness Act, eliminated cash bail in Illinois and introduced hearings focused on a defendant’s risk level and release conditions. According to the act, prosecutors can only seek detention for specific offenses defined by state law. These statutory categories are crucial in determining how often detention is requested and granted.
In Rowe v. Raoul, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the SAFE-T Act’s pretrial provisions. The court highlighted that the law significantly altered pretrial release decisions and clarified the judiciary’s role in applying this revised system.
Illinois’ detention statute specifies which offenses qualify for pretrial detention and requires prosecutors to meet particular legal standards to justify holding a defendant without release. Court training materials indicate that prosecutors must file a verified petition and present evidence before a judge can deny pretrial release, making any expansion of detainable offenses significant.
Tipsword’s background includes a 30-year career in law enforcement, serving as chief deputy in the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office. He represents House District 105 within the Illinois General Assembly, which comprises two chambers: the House of Representatives and another chamber.
