Yesterday, I hosted a Public Safety Roundtable event in Mattoon with law enforcement from the 101st District. I met with police chiefs and sheriffs to engage in open discussions about current legislation that directly impacts our communities. During our meeting, we had proactive conversations about law enforcement challenges, concerns, and possible solutions to improve public safety.
Hearing firsthand from law enforcement about the challenges they face helps me determine how to help them through legislation and public awareness. One of the biggest challenges the departments face is working around the SAFE-T Act and the mandates the law requires. For example, eliminating cash bail and repeat offenders not being accountable for breaking the law. A recent incident talked about proves crime is increasing due to eliminating cash bail: an individual was caught breaking into a local business and was released in less than an hour only to break into the same business again. This is a trend across Illinois. Furthermore, officers stated that agencies are not working to pursue charges, prosecutors are not pressing charges against criminals, and many officers have given up on trying to enforce laws. The so-called SAFE-T Act is reducing public safety.
Each police chief agreed that lack of funding has been a challenge for their departments. Two concerns they shared were the lack of state funds that help pay for body cameras and tasers. More specifically, the police departments in smaller communities simply don’t have the resources they need. Also, the body camera data must be stored on a cloud-based server, which comes with an expensive monthly fee. According to one officer, his department has seen their funding for tasers cut in half. Public safety starts with providing law enforcement officers with the tools they need.
After having great conversations about improving public safety, supporting smaller departments, and fixing the SAFE-T Act, several possible solutions were heard from the officers.
Solutions to Improve Public Safety
- Broaden felony list associated with the SAFE-T Act (Class 3 or higher is automatic jail time)
- Increase state grants to help fund body cameras, redaction software, and tasers
- Invest in long-term mental health facilities to help aid individuals who are not criminals
- Let smaller communities determine the best course of action that improves public safety
- Allow law enforcement to hold criminals accountable for breaking the law
- Prosecutors must press charges against anyone who breaks the law