Patrick Thomas Brouillette | Courtesy photo
Patrick Thomas Brouillette | Courtesy photo
Patrick Brouillette, the Republican candidate to represent the 44th House District, is speaking out against the elimination of cash bail as part of the SAFE-T Act.
“I believe eliminating cash bail will result in higher crime and make all our communities less safe,” Brouillette said.
When asked how he would respond to people who say that eliminating cash bail makes the justice system more fair and equitable, he said, "I don't believe in equity, I believe in equality. Equal opportunity with varying results based on effort. Consequences for ill-intended effort and reward for discipline and hard work.”
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. Republicans have called the SAFE-T Act a “de facto defund the police bill" because of its additional regulations on police officers.
Multiple state's attorneys expressed concern over the legislation at a media briefing in April, according to the Center Square.
One state’s attorney said, “With this new law, our hands will be tied. What sane citizen in this state of Illinois would want the state’s attorney’s hands tied, the police hands tied, and give all the perks going to violent offenders? That’s what this law does.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently defended the elimination of cash bail, according to The Center Square.
“We do not want someone in jail because they were arrested for a low-level crime like shoplifting to be sitting in jail for months or maybe even years,” Pritzker said. “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.”
District 44 includes Cook County and Streamwood.
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