One Week Left Until SAFE-T Act Takes Effect in Illinois

(EFFINGHAM COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY AARON JONES)

The SAFE-T Act will not result in weekend court in Effingham County, at least for now.

The overhaul of how law enforcement is done in Illinois is effective next Monday. One of the chief provisions is that far fewer arrested individuals will remain in custody, since cash bail will be a thing of the past.

One of many things to be decided is whether court will be needed on weekends so those arrested can be processed and released without being held. 

Effingham County State's Attorney Aaron Jones told the Effingham County Board Legislative Committee Monday that the three judges from or assigned to Effingham County have agreed that weekend incarceration is not held against an arrested individual, so there will not be a need for an individual to be processed on the weekend. 

Jones acknowledged that a ruling from a higher court could necessitate weekend hearings.

He also shared that this week will be a time for his office, the sheriff's office, and the courts to decide who among the three dozen people currently being held in Effingham County Jail will have to be released once the new law takes effect on Monday.