Senior Fall 2022 Newsletter

SAFE-T ACT

WHAT YOU NEED TO

KNOW ABOUT THE ILLINOIS SAFE-T ACT At the September 6, 2022 Orland Park Village Board meeting, a resolution was unanimously approved expressing concern over the new Illinois law entitled Safety Accountability and Fairness Equity Today (SAFE-T) Act. The resolution, as presented, demands that state legislators work with public safety representatives and all community stakeholders to fix remaining problems with the SAFE-T Act; including, but not limited to, unreasonably limiting the imposition of cash bail, unreasonably limiting police officer discretion to make arrests, imposing unreasonable police certification and decertification standards, mandating unreasonable custodial accommodations; unreasonably allowing offenders to violate terms of their release; and violating victims’ rights as outlined in Illinois law. “We must not allow this law to stand as passed,” said Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau. “I can’t even begin to tell you how dangerous this act is.” The mayor listed a handful of provisions that will go into effect on January 1, 2023:

• Abolition of cash bail for almost every offense. Including, but not limited to, kidnapping, armed robbery, second degree murder, drug induced homicide, aggravated DUI, threatening a public official and aggravated fleeing and eluding. • Offenders released on electronic monitoring have to be in violation for 48 hours before law enforcement can act. • Denies victims their constitutional rights • Officers will no longer be able to remove trespassers from your residence or place of business.

10 | ORLAND PARK SENIORS

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