Safe-T Act reporting is only half the story

Since its passing and subsequent upholding by the Illinois Supreme Court, I've seen a lot of articles talking about the SAFE-T Act's elimination of cash bail.

When the only thing being reported is the bail provisions, your opinion on the cash bail system will drive your opinion of the overall act.

Cash bail may grab the headlines, but it's high time newspapers reported on the other aspects of the act: It overhauled police use of force, allowed anonymous and baseless complaints against police, created numerous unfunded mandates, restricted police ability to effect arrests and limited a judge's discretion to issue an arrest warrant; even in cases of some felony complaints and repeat court absconders.

The act seeks to replace legitimate arrests for crimes with "invitations to court" - all while simultaneously overhauling the entire criminal Justice system - an overhaul which the overworked courts and state's attorney's offices are not equipped to handle and provides no clear direction to implement.

I certainly hope the "court invitations" work better than arrests. I certainly hope the provisions of the SAFE-T Act create the safer, happier environment the legislature says it will.

My optimism hopes for these things, but my wisdom and common sense fear the opposite will ring true. I guess we'll see either way.

Nicole Kistler

South Elgin