THE FOLLOWING IS A VERMILION COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE RELEASE
Today marks the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act across the State of Illinois, better known to some as the no cash bail portion of the SAFE-T ACT. What this means is that any individual charged with a criminal offense will be presumed to be eligible to be released. There will be no cash bail amount set by the court.
The SAFE-T ACT was scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2023. With pushback by prosecutors across the state of Illinois like the Vermilion County State’s Attorney, the legislation has been modified.
In most all cases, the State’s Attorney’s Office will request offenders be detained when legally possible. However, there are many offenses such as Felony Aggravated Driving Under the Influence, Aggravated Fleeing or Attempting to Elude the Police, and Possession of Methamphetamine that detention is not permissible.
“As the Chief Legal Officer of Vermilion County, public safety is my main concern,” said Jaqueline Lacy, Vermilion County State’s Attorney. “I have been an advocate for victims of crime and will continue my fight to bring criminals to justice. I feel it is my continuing duty and responsibility to inform those whom I have sworn to protect of what this legislation means for public safety.”
Unless there is an exception to the rule, the court will be required to release the offender from jail with pretrial conditions. If eligible, after an arrest an offender is ordered to be detained in the custody of the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department, there will be no bail amount ordered. If an offender cannot be held in custody, they will be given a notice to appear in court and a list of pretrial conditions.
Jacqueline Lacy is committed to working with Vermilion County law enforcement partners, following the law and doing what is right for Vermilion County. More information will be shared on the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office Facebook page over the next several weeks.
