South Central Reporter

GOP attorney general candidate Tom DeVore noted community concern over the SAFE-T Act has become widespread recently now that the public knows more about the legislation's pending enactment.  

“It's the biggest conversation in the state right now by far. I mean, you know, north to south all the time,” DeVore told Chicago’s Morning Answer. “And when you guys were talking about it, kids are talking about it, it's unbelievable. I don't know how it's got their attention as fast as they did, but I'm certainly pleased. But every prosecutor, sheriff that I talk to across the state, they're beside themselves on how they're going to deal with this. We're going to have a mass exodus of alleged criminals that are going to be on the streets Jan. 1. That's a part of the conversation that doesn't happen much. But, you know, they're not sure what to do. It's almost like everybody's in a frenzy.”

DeVore said the attorney general's office needs to be working with the legislature.

“I don't know how appropriate that is, but there's hope the discretion of the state attorneys and the judges across the state have a significant impact over that,” he said.

DeVore said the problem is Democrats know the law is bad but because they passed, it makes them look bad if they seek to alter or repeal the law.

“I guarantee you there was pretty much a Nancy Pelosi moment here where we got to pass this so we can see what did it and didn't realize what they were doing and now they're all paralyzed with looking like a bunch of houses that were looking like appointees. So they're paralyzed. That's what I think,” DeVore said.

The SAFE-T Act will result in the release of those charged with crimes including robbery, kidnapping, arson, second-degree murder, intimidation, aggravated battery, aggravated DUI, aggravated flight, drug-related homicide and threatening a public official, Will County Gazette reported.

The act goes into force on Jan. 1.

Jim Glasgow, the state's attorney for Will County, has argued in favor of repealing the SAFE-T Act.

"It will destroy the state of Illinois," Glasgow said. "I have 640 people in the Will County Jail. All their bonds will be extinguished on Jan. 1, and 60 are charged with murder.”

Several state's attorneys have issued warnings to their communities about hundreds of individuals who have been suspected of committing significant offenses, some of which were incredibly violent.

Glasgow has stated that the defendant in his case planned to kill him while he was imprisoned and that, if he were released, he would have carried out the murder himself.

If the SAFE-T Act had been in place earlier, the man would have been free, The Center Square reported.

“Approximately 400 criminal defendants will be released back into our community because our Illinois legislators passed the 'SAFE-T Act' back in 2020,” Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley recently said.