(The Center Square) – A former Illinois state legislator says their fears about the end of cash bail are now coming true as Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart pushes to end the department’s electronic monitoring program over concerns about safety.
Citing data that shows a growing number of pre-trial defendants allowed to remain free due to the Pretrial Fairness Act are now being charged with other crimes committed during the time they are free to move about for school, work and other activities, Dart’s office told The Chicago Tribune he can no longer ensure public safety.
Darren Bailey, a former state senator and Republican candidate for governor, said it’s just a sign of the times, largely brought about by elements stemming from the enactment of the SAFE-T Act.
“I’m sure he’s doing it because he probably can’t keep up with all the people that need monitoring,” Bailey told The Center Square. “I think if you’ve got criminals out there that should be wearing electronic tracking devices and now all of a sudden we don’t know where they are, that would cause panic within the public. I think this whole argument that he is making should invalidate the SAFE-T Act.”
By Dart’s estimation, upwards of 200 pre-trial defendants have recently been charged with new crimes that include shootings and other gun offenses. As a result, the veteran lawmaker has penciled in April 1, as the day his office will begin completely phasing out electronic monitoring across the county.
In Bailey’s mind, Chicago is paying a heavy price for what he sees as all the state’s wayward criminal justice policies.
“I’m proud of Illinois. I’ve been proud of our history, but we’re going to give all of that up for the sake of crime and wrongdoing,” Bailey said. “As beautiful and wonderful as the city of Chicago is and the suburbs of Cook County are, people are avoiding it.”
While Bailey has long been a fierce SAFE-T Act critic, not everyone thinks the law is the central problem.
Cook County Public Defender Sharlyn Grace argued most people on electronic monitoring are abiding by the requirements and even the rearrest of such offenders does not automatically make the program a failure.
