Rockford Sun

Radio show host Dan Proft is calling attention to comments from the Winnebago County State’s Attorney noting hundreds of possibly violent criminals will be released in Winnebago County.

He struck out against Gov. J.B. Pritzker in a tweet.

“'Approximately 400 criminal defendants will be released back into our community because our Illinois legislators passed the 'SAFE-T Act' back in 2020.' The Winnebago Co SA...or just another fearmongering racist (like me), according to @JBPritzker. #twill," Proft, the host of Chicago's Morning Answer on AM-560, tweeted.

The quote was attributed to Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley who recently wrote an op-ed titled “State's Attorney: More than half of Winnebago County Jail to walk out door Jan. 1” in the Rockford Register Star noting the SAFE-T Act presents a huge public safety concern.

“Imagine the defendant who murdered his wife, to whom he no longer poses a threat, being released because of this ridiculously limited legal standard. Even more absurd, judges may no longer issue a warrant when a defendant fails to come to court. Instead, an absent defendant must next be served with a court order asking them again to appear and then fail to appear a second time before a warrant may be issued,” Hanley wrote. “This convoluted series of steps will not only delay justice for victims and strike fear into the hearts of witnesses, it will place an unnecessary burden on law enforcement to find defendants who they’ve already arrested and serve them with a piece of paper asking them nicely to come to court. In eliminating virtually all accountability for defendants, the new law severely impedes the orderly administration of justice.”

Hanley said one can hear the wheels of justice grinding to a halt.

“In addition to upending longstanding principles of justice, the law places unrealistic timelines and obligations on the State’s Attorney’s Office — and other criminal justice partners — creating unnecessary strain on already overwhelmed employees,” he said. “The bottom line: The law will allow dangerous individuals to roam our streets. It will deter victims and witnesses from reporting crimes. And it will make it more difficult to prosecute those alleged crimes.”

Hanley also said the new law is an "unfunded mandate."

“Oh, and as is customary in Illinois, the new law is an ‘unfunded mandate’ requiring the county to spend even more money on the criminal justice system without any financial support from the state. Come Jan. 1, our criminal justice system will become much more expensive and much less effective.”

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

The act goes into force on Jan. 1, Will County Gazette reported.

GOP attorney general candidate Tom DeVore recently noted the SAFE-T Act discussion is “the biggest conversation in the state right now that by far. I mean, you know, north to south all the time.”