CHICAGO — In recent public remarks, the federal administration threatened to change statutes on cash bail in Illinois and Washington, D.C., accusing the SAFE-T Act and the end of cash bail of increasing crime rates in Chicago. To set the record straight on both the law and the facts, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“Once again, the federal administration is spreading dangerous misinformation – this time falsely claiming the end of cash bail in Illinois has led to rising crime rates across the state, particularly in Chicago, and that murderers are being released the same day they commit a crime. This could not be further from the truth.

“Not only are these claims blatantly wrong, they are intentionally misleading in order to spread fear. The truth is very simple: Illinois now prioritizes public safety over wealth. Under our state’s criminal justice system reform, individuals are detained or released based on whether they pose a risk to the community or are likely to flee – not on whether they can afford to foot the bill. That means someone with money doesn’t get a free pass, and someone without it isn’t jailed simply because they’re poor.

“No one accused of a serious crime – like murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, sex offenses, domestic violence or other non-probationable, felony crimes – is eligible for automatic release. Our judges can and do order pretrial detention when the facts warrant it.

“Crime is a complex issue, but stoking fear with false narratives doesn’t help. In fact, we’re in a historic period, with violent and property crimes down nationwide. The real threat to hardworking Illinois families isn’t smarter bail policies – it’s legislation like the Washington-backed budget bill, which would strip health care from hundreds of thousands, hike grocery prices and cut jobs in key industries like construction and manufacturing.

“Americans deserve honest leadership, not scare tactics. The cash bail system is flawed, and Illinois will not go back to using it against our residents. We’re committed to staying focused on facts, fairness and building safer communities for everyone – not just the people who can afford it.”