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Illinois is bracing for a surge in crime and more victims as the state of Illinois is set to be the first state to eliminate cash bail. The Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of ending cash bail has sent shock waves across the state, with many sheriffs expressing serious concerns about the impact of this decision on law enforcement and public safety.

Residents of Illinois are extremely concerned about this dangerous experiment on the backs of the victims of crime, said Franklin County Sheriff Kyle Bacon, adding that it is alarming that the rights of defendants are being prioritized over the protection of the public.

The new law, set to take effect on September 18, means that those charged with a crime will no longer need to post bail to be released from jail while they await trial unless the judge regards them as a threat to the public or a flight risk.

Illinois is playing with fire by eliminating cash bail, which has long protected the public from dangerous criminals. The state’s law enforcement officers and prosecutors are now scrambling to prepare for the inevitable surge in crime, as the full effects of this change will only be known when the law takes effect.

The provision, which is part of the SAFE-T Act, was previously placed on hold after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul appealed a ruling by a circuit judge that the pre-trial release and bail reforms were unconstitutional. However, the Illinois Supreme Court’s recent ruling has set a dangerous precedent that puts the public and law enforcement at risk.

The new law will effectively release criminals back onto the streets, putting hundreds of thousands of citizens in harm’s way, said Illinois sheriffs. The police, those in the criminal justice system, and the citizens will be discouraged by this shift in priorities. What happens to the hundreds of people who are sitting in jail, requiring cash bail? What about the hundreds of arrest warrants assigned cash bonds? The authorities have no answers, increasing fears that this will lead to a spike in crime and heighten public frustration.

If Illinois is truly serious about tackling crime, it must prioritize public safety over the rights of criminals. By eliminating cash bail, the state is gambling with the lives of its citizens, said sheriffs of southern Illinois. This flies in the face of logic, reason, and common sense, and the consequences will be dire. Illinois must act now to reverse this reckless decision before it’s too late.