Southern Illinois News

Blaine Wilhour, the state representative for Illinois House District 110, said that a man arrested in connection with a woman's death was released due to non-detainable offenses under the SAFE-T Act. The statement was made on X.

"Jose Mendoza-Gonzales was arrested for the following in connection to this woman's death and was NOT able to be detained thanks to Pritzker SAFE-T Act," said Blaine Jacob Wilhour, State Representative from Illinois. "The Judge in the case called the offense “very serious” but had to release him because the above are “NON-DETAINABLE OFFENSES under the IL SAFE-T ACT. This monster is out because JB Pritzker prioritized criminals over Illinois. He then stuffed her body in a garbage can."

On September 18, 2023, Illinois implemented the Pretrial Fairness Act, a key component of the SAFE-T Act, becoming the first U.S. state to eliminate cash bail statewide. This reform replaced monetary bail with a risk-based pretrial release system, allowing judges to detain individuals only if they pose a specific threat or flight risk. The Illinois Supreme Court upheld the law's constitutionality in July 2023, despite opposition from some law enforcement groups and political figures. The act also introduced broader criminal justice reforms, including mandatory body cameras for police and stricter use-of-force standards. According to Illinois Legal Aid Online, the new system aims to reduce pretrial incarceration based on financial status.

According to Capitol News Illinois, in the first nine months following the SAFE-T Act's implementation, judges in 75 Illinois counties issued failure-to-appear warrants in only 5% of over 28,000 court dates. Additionally, judges approved approximately 63% of detention petitions submitted by prosecutors. This data suggests that the new pretrial system maintains court appearance rates while allowing for selective pretrial detentions based on assessed risk.

Early research from the Center for Criminal Justice at Loyola University Chicago indicates that Illinois' elimination of cash bail has not led to a significant change in pretrial release rates. While jail populations have decreased slightly, the overall rate of pretrial releases remains relatively stable. The primary change lies in the method of release, shifting from financial conditions to risk assessments.

Wilhour is a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 110th district. Born on March 10, 1982, in Altamont, Illinois, he is a farmer and business owner. He served in the Illinois Army National Guard from 1999 to 2005 and is known for his conservative political positions and active voice in state legislative matters.