Dupage Policy Journal

Aris Garcia, the Republican candidate for State Representative in Illinois’ 49th district, has raised concerns about the effectiveness and accountability of the recently enacted SAFE-T Act.

The criminal justice reform law, known for its cashless bail provision, has come under scrutiny after a repeat offender was released under its provisions and subsequently committed another crime just days later.

“The SAFE-T Act has been just the latest in a line of tremendous failures coming from a democrat controlled state government. Who will take accountability?” Garcia said on X.

Garcia linked to a tweet by CWBCHicago noting a serious offender who was let out under the SAFE-T Act after leading police on a high-speed chase where he ran into a pedestrian.

“Remember the guy accused of leading troopers on a high-speed chase in a stolen car that crashed and hit a pedestrian in Lincoln Park last month?” CWBCHicago said on X. “He was released under the SAFE-T Act and robbed a clothing store two days later, prosecutors say.”

Johns had been on electronic monitoring for pending misdemeanors before he engaged in a high-speed police chase across Chicago after allegedly carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint, ending in a crash in Lincoln Park, CWB Chicago reported.

For that incident he faced charges of felony aggravated fleeing, misdemeanor driving without a license, and other traffic violations, with a curfew imposed until further court hearings.

Just two days after being released under the SAFE-T Act following a high-speed chase in Chicago, Johns allegedly robbed a clothing store in Cicero, leading to his re-arrest, according to CWB Chicago.

This incident marks his fourth pending case, and he is now facing charges of aggravated robbery while being detained as a public safety risk.

The 49th District is currently represented by State Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia).

It includes parts of Batavia, West Chicago, South Elgin, Wayne, Bartlett, and tiny portions of Aurora and Geneva.