West Cook News

Illinois GOP candidate Matthew Schultz talked with West Cook News about his dissatisfaction with the elimination of cash bail, along with his deep concern regarding what will happen when it goes into full effect in 2023.

Matthew Schultz (R) is running for election to the Illinois House of Representatives to represent District 21.

“I believe that eliminating cash bail will make my community less safe," Schultz said. "As seen with New York state, which has no cash bail, the growing consensus is that no cash bail is a source of crime. Sixty-four percent think the 2019 bail reform law has resulted in an increase in crime, while 24% don’t think it has. A whopping 82% of voters said judges should be given more authority to post bail for more defendants, compared to 11% who were opposed. As of February of this year, total crime in New York City was up 42% year over year. If the backlash and massive jump in crime are anything to go by, no cash bail is dangerous. I am deeply concerned with what will happen in Illinois when it goes into full effect in 2023.”

Matthew Schultz | Ballotpedia.org

Supporters of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, including the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, point to the legislation as a step toward making the justice system more equitable for minorities, according to Capitol News Illinois. Republicans have called the SAFE-T Act a “de facto defund the police bill" because of the additional regulations it places on police officers. The SAFE-T Act will eliminate cash bail in Illinois, effective Jan. 1, 2023, which critics claim will lead to more criminals out on the streets.

“To those who argue that cash bail is not fair or equitable, I have to ask: What is fair or equitable about ending it?" Schultz said. "Is it fair to the victims if the accused skips town and does not stand trial? How is it equitable to release a potentially dangerous individual immediately back into society? The answer is, it’s not. Chicago, and Illinois by extension, has a crime problem. Forty-four were shot and eight killed in Chicago this weekend. There were (fewer) U.S. casualties in Afghanistan in all of 2003. On top of that, over 20 people were accused of killing, shooting or trying to shoot or kill someone in Chicago this year while awaiting trial for a felony. The alleged crimes involve at least 49 victims, 11 of whom died. We need every reasonable tool we can get our hands on to keep people safe from violence. Cash bail is one such tool.”

Multiple states' attorneys expressed concern over the legislation at a media briefing in April, according to The Center Square. One of the biggest concerns for many is the elimination of cash bail. State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) said that some of the provisions regarding law enforcement are driving people away from the field.

“It's been very frustrating to see our law enforcement officers retire early, some of our sheriffs retire early and our students not wanting to go into the law enforcement field,” Fowler told The Center Square.

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

"We do not want someone, 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."