From State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally:

SAFE-T Act Continues to Reveal Concerns as Defendants Return to the Community

Post Date:09/25/2023 3:46 PM

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

More SAFE-T Act failures:    

Defendant #1: On September 21, 2023, a 27-year-old male who was charged with Possession With Intent to Distribute A Look-Alike Substance after allegedly being found with 30 counterfeit Alprazolam tablets.  A search of the Defendant’s phone allegedly found multiple text conversations in which the Defendant was arranging for the sale of the counterfeit tablets.  The pills are believed to be Clonazolam, a new designer benzodiazepine not yet scheduled as an illegal drug by Illinois, but which has been involved in several overdose deaths in McHenry County.  In April of 2020, the Defendant was sentenced to 30 months in the Illinois Department of Corrections on multiple charges.  As part of his probationary sentences in five prior criminal cases, the Defendant was required to complete substance abuse treatment.  The Defendant has previously been arrested multiple times while out on bond or while serving a probationary sentence.  The charges against the Defendant are “non-detainable” and he was released into the community.

Defendant #2: On September 25, 2023, the court released a 38-year-old man who had previously been in custody since October 8, 2022.  The Defendant was arrested for on two counts of Harassment by Telephone and three counts of Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer.  The Defendant allegedly called his ex-girlfriend and left a voicemail indicating he was traveling to her home and indicated he knew how to dismember a body.   When police arrived to arrest the defendant, he allegedly struck one officer and bit and grabbed the testicles of another.  The Defendant has an extensive criminal history that includes 15 arrests and two prior stints in Illinois Department of Corrections in 2016 and 2013 for Delivery of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance, respectively.  As part of prior criminal sentences, the Defendant had been ordered complete drug counseling services at least three prior times. 

The Defendant had been in custody since October, unable to post bond.  However, under the SAFE-T Act, the Defendant filed a petition for release.  While the aggravated battery offenses were non-detainable, the State argued that the Defendant should be detained on the harassment charges because, being a felony offense involving the threat of great bodily harm, it was detainable.  Under the SAFE-T Act, however, the court must release a Defendant even on a detainable offense if a judge finds that pretrial release conditions “can mitigate” the threat posed by a defendant.  In this case, the court released the Defendant with the pretrial conditions that he not contact his ex-girlfriend, not use drugs or alcohol, submit to random urine drops, and live in a sober living house. 

Over the past week, numerous constituents have reached out to the office in disbelief that they had been lied to about the SAFE-T Act and wanted some type of proof or confirmation from our office that it was as flawed as we claimed.  

No doubt, the savvy and well-funded public relations of the activist groups that wrote the legislation and their political patrons have caused most of the confusion. 

These proponents, who sought to reimagine the criminal justice system,” but succeeded only in enacting an objectively bad law that constituents do not want once they understand it, have relentlessly put out half-truths and outright falsehoods about the SAFE-T Act. 

What’s more, the efforts of those of us publicly attempting to correct the record are assailed as “misinformation.” 

For example, Governor Pritzker tweeted last week, disingenuously, that the SAFE-T Act allows judges to “detain those who pose a threat to their communities…” 

We thought it worthwhile, therefore, to, again, walk constituents through the law in the hopes of clarifying it and its dangerous consequences.

Google “725 ILCS 5/110-2” to follow along.  725ILCS 5/110-2(a) states:

All persons charged with an offense shall be eligible for pretrial release before conviction. It is presumed that a defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance.

There used to a be a section (725 ILCS 5/110-4) that created a presumption for holding persons facing life in prison (certain murders and child sex offenders, amongst others). That was repealed.

Further down in 725 ILCS 5/110-2(a), the law provides, “[pr]etrial release may be denied only if a person is charged with an offense listed in Section 110-6.1…”

Scroll down to Section 6.1, which lists the offenses eligible for detention.  While it is true that section 6.1 includes many serious offenses, most criminal offenses currently “on the books” are not included in section 6.1, and are, therefore, non-detainable. 

A full list of all “non-detainable” offenses is included below. 

There is no other section of the SAFE-T Act that allows a judge to detain a person charged with a “non-detainable” offense based on risk to the community or its members. 

In other words, a defendant who is not charged with a detainable offense under section 6.1 cannot be held pretrial no matter how egregious the defendant’s criminal history or history of not complying with court orders might be, how convinced a judge may be that the defendant will reoffend if released, or how convinced a judge may be that the defendant is otherwise a danger to the community. 

Non-Detainable Offenses

Aggravated Battery – 720 ILCS 5/12-3.05

– Aggravated Battery (Strangulation)

– Aggravated Battery (Child or person with disability)

– Aggravated Battery (Public Way)

– Aggravated Battery (Elderly Person)

– Aggravated Battery (Pregnant Person)

– Aggravated Battery (Teacher)

– Aggravated Battery (Nurse)

– Aggravated Battery (Police Officer, EMT, etc.)

– Aggravated Battery (Judge)

– Aggravated Battery (Taxi driver, merchant, process server)

Concealment of Homicidal Death – 720 ILCS 5/9-3.4

Agg. Assault w/ a Firearm – 720 ILCS 5/12-2(c)

Aggravated Assault – 720 ILCS 5/12-2

Leaving Custody/Control of Child with Child Sex Offender – 720 ILCS 5/12-21.6-5

Disarming a Peace Officer – 720 ILCS 5/31-1a

Fleeing & Eluding – 625 ILCS 5/11-204

Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding – 625 ILCS 5/11-204

Child Endangerment – 720 ILCS 5/12C-5

Child Abandonment – 720 ILCS 5/12C-10

Driving Under the Influence (& Agg) – 625 ILCS 5/11-501

– DUI < 3 prior DUIs

– DUI w/ a BAC > 0.16

– DUI with children in car

– DUI while driving school bus

– DUI driver’s license suspended

– DUI no insurance

Sale or Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance – 720 ILCS 570/401

– Fentanyl (>5g)

– Heroin (>3g)

– Cocaine (>15g)

– Morphine (>15g)

– Meth (>15g)

– Oxycodone (>100g)

Possession of any Controlled Substance (any amount) – 720 ILCS 570/402

Drug-Induced Infliction of Great Bodily Harm – 720 ILCS 5/12-4.10

Unlawful Use of Weapon – 720 ILCS 5/24-1

Poss. of a Stolen Firearm – 720 ILCS 5/24-3.8

Unlawful Poss. Of Firearms & Ammo – 720 ILCS 5/24-3.1

Interfering with Reporting of Domestic Violence – 720 ILCS 5/12-3.5

Witness & Juror Harassment – 720 ILCS 5/32-4 & 4a

Elder Abuse or Neglect – 720 ILCS 5/12-4.4a

Financial Exploitation of Elderly or Disabled – 720 ILCS 5/17-56

Burglary – 720 ILCS 5/19-1

Assault – 720 ILCS 5/12-1

Aggravated Intimidation – 720 ILCS 5/12-6.2

Battery – 720 ILCS 5/12-3

Poss. of Explosive(s) / Incendiary Device(s) – 720 ILCS 5/20-2

Vehicular Invasion – 720 ILCS 5/18-6

Escape – 720 ILCS 5/31-6

Leaving the Scene:

– Personal Injury Accident – 625 ILCS 5/11-401

– Damage to Vehicle – 625 ILCS 5/11-402

Armed Violence – 720 ILCS 5/33A-2

Reckless Conduct – 720 ILCS 5/12-5

Concealment of Death – 720 ILCS 5/9-3.5

Unlawful Restraint – 720 ILCS 5/10-3

Agg. Unlawful Restraint – 720 ILCS 5/10-3.1

Concealing a Fugitive – 720 ILCS 5/31-5

Money Laundering – 720 ILCS 5/29B-1

Reckless Driving (& Agg.) – 625 ILCS 5/11-503

Mob Action – 720 ILCS 5/12-1

Dog Fighting – 720 ILCS 5/48-1Hazing – 720 ILCS 5/12C-50

Intimidation – 720 ILCS 5/12-6

Institutional Vandalism – 720 ILCS 5/21-1.2

Disclosure of Domestic Battery Victim’s Location – 720 ILCS 5/12-3.6

Violation of a Civil No Contact Order – 720 ILCS 5/12-3.8

Violation of Bail Bond – 720 ILCS 5/32-10

Electronic Tracking – 720 ILCS 5/21-2.5

Visitation Interference – 720 ILCS 5/10-5.5

Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – 720 ILCS 5/12C-30

Curfew – 720 ILCS 5/12C-60

Inducing Truancy – 105 ILCS 5/26-11

Criminal Transmission of HIV – 720 ILCS 5/12-5.01

Prostitution – 720 ILCS 5/11-14

– Solicitation of a Sexual Act – 720 ILCS 5/11-14.1

– Patronizing a Prostitute – 720 ILCS 5/11-18

Public Indecency – 720 ILCS 5/11-30

Obscenity – 720 ILCS 5/11-20

Financial Exploitation of Elderly or Disabled – 720 ILCS 5/17-56

Theft – 720 ILCS 5/16-1

– Of Lost/Mislaid Property – 720 ILCS 5/16-2

– Of Labor/Services/Use of Property – 720 ILCS 5/16-3

– Of Utility – 720 ILCS 5/16-14

– Photograph as Competent Evidence at Trial – 725 ILCS 5/115-9

Unauthorized Possession of Prescription Form – 720 ILCS 507/406.2

Retail Theft – 720 ILCS 5/16-25

Identify Theft – 720 ILCS 5/16-30

Deceptive Practice – 720 ILCS 5/17-1

Deceptive Advertising – 720 ILCS 5/17-5.7

Forgery – 720 ILCS 5/17-3

Poss. of Another’s Credit/Debit/ID Card – 720 ILCS 5/17-32

Computer Tampering – 720 ILCS 5/17-51

Poss. of Stolen/Converted Vehicle – 625 ILCS 5/4-103

Institutional Vandalism – 720 ILCS 5/21-1.2

Poss. of Burglary Tools – 720 ILCS 5/19-2

Criminal Trespass to:

Residence – 720 ILCS 5/19-4

– Real Property – 720 ILCS 5/21-3

– State Supported – 720 ILCS 5/21-5

– Railroad – 625 ILCS 5/18c-7503

– Cemetery – 765 ILCS 835/1(f)

– Vehicle – 720 ILCS 5/21-2 & 625 ILCS 5/4-102(a)(2)

– Airport – 720 ILCS 5/21-7

Defacement – 720 ILCS 5/21-1.3

Criminal Damage to:

– Property – 720 ILCS 5/21-1

– State Supported – 720 ILCS 5/21-1.01

– Vehicle – 625 ILCS 5/4-102(a)(1)

– Cemetery – 765 ILCS 835/1(b)

Vehicular Endangerment – 720 ILCS 5/12-5.02

Electronic Tracking – 720 ILCS 5/21-2.5

Violation of Bail Bond – 720 ILCS 5/32-10

Electronic Tracking – 720 ILCS 5/21-2.5

Hazing – 720 ILCS 5/12C-50

Institutional Vandalism – 720 ILCS 5/21-1.2

Disorderly Conduct – 720 ILCS 5/26-1

Prostitution – 720 ILCS 5/11-14

– Solicitation of a Sexual Act – 720 ILCS 5/11-14.1

– Patronizing a Prostitute – 720 ILCS 5/11-18

Public Indecency – 720 ILCS 5/11-30

Unauthorized Video Recording & Transmission – 720 ILCS 5/26-4

Transmission of Obscene Messages – 720 ILCS 5/26.5-1

Phone Harassment – 720 ILCS 5/26.5-2

Electronic Harassment – 720 ILCS 5/26.5-3

Gambling – 720 ILCS 5/28-1

Poss./Sale/Use of Fireworks – 425 ILCS 35/2

Poss./Use of a Fraudulent ID Card – 235 ILCS 5/6-20(c) & 15 ILCS 335/14

Unlawful Use of Driver’s License – 625 ILCS 5/6-301

Fictitious/Altered Driver’s License – 625 ILCS 5/6-301.1

Fraudulent Driver’s License – 625 ILCS 5/6-301.2

Electronic Tracking – 720 ILCS 5/21-2.5

Resisting/Obstructing a Peace Officer – 720 ILCS 5/31-1

Obstructing Justice – 720 ILCS 5/31-4

Obstructing ID – 720 ILCS 5/31-4.5

Violation of Bail Bond – 720 ILCS 5/32-10

False Police Report – 720 ILCS 5/26-1(a)(4) – (10)

False Personation of a Peace Officer – 720 ILCS 5/17-2

Concealment of Death – 720 ILCS 5/9-3.5

Harboring a Runaway – 720 ILCS 5/10-6

Teasing/Striking/Tampering with Police/Service Animal – 510 ILCS 70/4.03

Bribery – 720 ILCS 5/33-1

Official Misconduct – 720 ILCS 5/33-3

Eavesdropping (inc. Overhears) – 720 ILCS 5/14-1 et. seq.

Perjury – 720 ILCS 5/32-2

Subornation of Perjury – 720 ILCS 5/32-3

Obstruction of Service – 720 ILCS 5/31-3

Bringing Contraband into Penal Institution – 720 ILCS 5/31A-1.1 & 1.2

Defrauding Drug/Alcohol Screening Test – 720 ILCS 5/17-57

Failure to Comply w/ Condition of Elec. Monitoring or Home Detention – 730 ILCS 5/5-8A-4.1

Firearm (defined) – 430 ILCS 65/1.1

Violation of Bail Bond by Poss. Firearm – 720 ILCS 5/32-10(a-5)

Defacing Firearm ID Marks – 720 ILCS 5/24-5

Unlawful Use of Oscillating/Rotating/Flashing Lights – 625 ILCS 5/12-215

Poss. of Stolen Vehicle Registration – 625 ILCS 5/4-104

Duty to Give Info/Render Aid – 625 ILCS 5/11-403

Duty Upon Damaging Unattended Vehicle/Property – 625 ILCS 5/11-404

Driving While License Suspended/Revoked – 625 ILCS 5/6-303

Unlawful Use of Driver’s License – 625 ILCS 5/6-301

Fictitious/Altered Driver’s License – 625 ILCS 5/6-301.1

Fraudulent Driver’s License – 625 ILCS 5/6-301.2

Driving/Never Issued Driver’s License – 625 ILCS 5/6-101

No Driver’s License on Person – 625 ILCS 5/6-112

Failure to Surrender Cancelled/Susp/Revoked License – 625 ILCS 5/6-301

Transporting/Poss. Alcohol in Vehicle – 625 ILCS 5/11-502

Poss. of Cannabis in Motor Vehicle – 625 ILCS 5/11-502.15

Sale/Delivery of Alcohol to a Minor – 235 ILCS 5/16-6(a)(iii)

Sale of Tobacco to Minors – 720 ILCS 675/1

Sale of Lottery Ticket to a Minor – 20 ILCS 1605/15

Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor – 235 ILCS 5/6-20(e)

Poss. of Alcohol by a Minor – 235 ILCS 5/6-16(a)(iii)

Misrepresentation of Age by a Minor – 235 ILCS 5/10-1 & 235 ILCS 5/6-16(a)(iii)

Teasing/Striking/Tampering with Police/Service Animal – 510 ILCS 70/4.03

Confinement of an Animal in Motor Vehicle – 510 ILCS 70/7.1

Penalties – 510 ILCS 70/17

Injury to Domestic Animal – 720 ILCS 5/21-1(a)(4)