South Central Reporter

In some ways, state Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) argues Democrats in Springfield have become the state’s worst enemy.

“Last January, the Democrats pushed through sweeping changes to our criminal justice system,” Bryant said at a recent news conference on the subject of legislation now being re-filed by Senate Republicans with the goal of repealing the SAFE-T Act. “They pushed through those changes in the middle of the night without public or law enforcement input and a year later we can safely say that their approach has failed.”

Bryant argues the number of residents forced to suffer from the Democrats’ “my way or the highway approach,” seem too many to count. All over the state, crime rates are up ever since the SAFE-T Act that eliminates the cash bail system and changes the way allegations of police conduct are handled passed into law.

In addition, vacancy rates at local police departments are up by 20 percent.

“As I've listened to my colleagues here talking, I just want to remind all of you that in the region where I live just a few months ago Deputy Sheriff Sean Riley from the Wayne County Sheriff's Department was shot to death when he stopped for what he thought was a distressed motorist,” Bryant said. “He was shot and his body was thrown into a ditch. That’s just a few miles away from where my daughter and my grandchildren live, and where my son-in-law served as a deputy sheriff for Jefferson County for several years. I don't know if my son-in-law would ever go back to law enforcement. And that's because of the way we treat our law enforcement officers.”

State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Westmont) is also supporting repeal efforts, adding her worse fears have become true since the law took effect.

“We warned you that this would make crime even worse,” she said. “Welcome to reality.”

After the press conference, the Legislative Black Caucus released a statement that said the SAFE-T Act made the justice system fairer for minorities. 

The caucus also said complaints from Republicans were premature.

“Many provisions of the SAFE-T Act have not even gone into effect yet," the Caucus said, "proving the Republican gambit is all for show.”