Dupage Policy Journal

State Representative Amy Grant hosted a law enforcement roundtable on Thursday, October 12th to discuss the fallout from the implementation of the SAFE-T Act. The roundtable brought together local police chiefs and law enforcement officers from the 47th District to address concerns regarding public safety in DuPage County and the State of Illinois.

During the discussion, Rep. Grant emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of Illinois residents. She stated, "Every family in our state deserves to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. One month in and the concerns surrounding the SAFE-T Act persist. With a daily influx of news about dangerous crimes affecting Illinois residents, it's clear that we must continue demanding real change in Springfield."

One of the key topics of conversation was the need to support and uplift law enforcement agencies. Rep. Grant highlighted the shift towards favoring criminals over victims and the importance of recruiting and retaining dedicated and qualified law enforcement professionals. She also suggested adopting changes similar to the New Jersey model of pre-trial release, which grants judges the discretion to keep offenders charged with any criminal offense in jail before their trial. Grant stated, "The flaws that still remain with the SAFE-T Act can be fixed if we adopt changes similar to the New Jersey model of pre-trial release. Their model, which is praised by prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys, grants judges the discretion to keep offenders charged with any criminal offense in jail before their trial."

The strain of unfunded mandates on local governments was another significant issue discussed at the roundtable. Body cameras, while crucial for the safety of both citizens and officers, are an expensive mandate that municipalities often struggle to finance on their own. Rep. Grant acknowledged this burden and stated, "The state often passes laws without considering the financial implications on our local governments. While tools like body cameras are essential for ensuring transparency and safety, the burden of their cost shouldn't fall squarely on the shoulders of our communities."

Prominent figures from local police departments and law enforcement agencies attended the roundtable, representing communities in the 47th District such as the DuPage States Attorney's Office, Warrenville, Wheaton, Lisle, Carol Stream, Bartlett, Winfield, and Wayne. Rep. Grant expressed her commitment to building and maintaining relationships with law enforcement leaders and officers, recognizing their invaluable role in safeguarding families, neighbors, and businesses. She stated, "The public safety challenges we face are significant, but I stand firm in my commitment to building and maintaining relationships with law enforcement leaders and officers. Their invaluable role in safeguarding our families, neighbors, and businesses cannot be understated."

For further information about Rep. Grant's work to support the law enforcement community, individuals are encouraged to contact her office at 331-218-4182.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://repgrant.com/2023/10/13/rep-grant-hosts-law-enforcement-roundtable-to-discuss-safe-t-act-fallout/