Southern Illinois News

State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) is sounding the alarm about rising crime rates in Illinois and the climate he feels is making almost everyone more vulnerable.  

“I’m joined today by my colleagues Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) and Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) to review the state of Criminal Justice Reform and discuss a very concerning rise in serious crime in Illinois since the so-called SAFE-T Act was passed and signed into law last year.” Windhorst said at a Jan. 5 news conference about the bill that passed despite Republican pushback.

“House Bill 3653 cleared the House by the slimmest possible majority in the 101st General Assembly, he said. “In the lead-up to the session that saw its passage, House Republicans warned that the massive changes contained in the act would lead to reduced public safety and the decline of the ability of police officers to do their jobs.”

Windhorst notes that in the same year that HB 3653 passed, ending the state’s cash bail system and enacting changes promoted as seeking greater police accountability, violent crime is up and 17% of Illinois sheriffs made the decision to retire early.

“As policies passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor have taken effect we have seen the job of law enforcement officers become more dangerous and harder to do,” Windhorst said. “Criminals are acting more emboldened than ever before and repeat offenders are being let out of jail with little to no cash bail. We need to reflect on the rise in violent crimes and ask why these things are happening. We must change direction. We must work together to repeal the problematic parts of the last year's criminal justice bill and work to restore law and order in our communities.”