PIKE: Will Illinois lose federal funding due to SAFE-T Act?

By Editor | September 3, 2025 |

By BETH ZUMWALT

The state of Illinois could be in danger of losing federal funding.

It’s not clear what federal funding, if any, would be in jeopardy because of the executive order.

President Donald Trump has made the threat of pulling federal funding to states who have eliminated a cash bail system. Illinois abolished cash bail in 2023, despite protests from law enforcement and court officials. The bill was titled the Pre-Trial Fairness Act. Trump has also threatened to send the National Guard to Illinois to assist in crime prevention.

Illinois officials say this is not necessary, adding local law enforcement is handling the situation.

There were seven people killed in Chicago over the Labor Day weekend and 47 others wounded.

Illinois was the first state to entirely eliminate cash bail, but at least seven other states have limited versions of the act.

Illinois’ new system puts the impetus on judges to determine whether an accused individual is dangerous. It allows them to detain the accused individual if a prosecutor requests it, or to set release conditions, rather than simply setting a dollar amount that a person could pay to be released. If certain criteria exist, judges can deny pre-trial release. That criteria includes a danger to his or herself or others, high probability of failure to appear or flea the jurisdiction or other circumstances that might affect the outcome of a trial.

Proponents say requiring a monetary cash bail favors the wealthy and opponents say criminals, who are likely to repeat offend, are immediately put back out on the street with no accountability or incentive to show up for court appearances.

All law enforcement and court officials in Pike County opposed the measure when it was passed and still do. Local officials and their organizations alike: The Illinois Sheriff’s Association, The Illinois State’s Attorney Prosecutors Agency as well as others.

Pike County State’s Attorney Walker Filbert doesn’t think it will matter.

“It’s not going to happen anytime soon,” Filbert said. “ The party that advocated for it (Democrats) have the super-majority in the General Assembly and in the office of the governor. It’s simple math, simple politics.”

Filbert doesn’t think the fear of losing federal funding will tip the scales.

“The governor and his party are dug in and spoiling for a fight,” Filbert said.

Pike County Sheriff Dave Greenwood said he, too, is skeptical about seeing the bill overturned.

“The only way I can see the SAFE-T Act being repealed is with a legislature that pays more attention to the cares of its constituents rather than the desires of their political party in Chicago. Illinois would also need a governor with the same vision and with the track record our state (or Chicago) has with picking its governors, unfortunately it appears the Act is here for the foreseeable future, barring some sort of court action.”

Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Starman has been a vocal opponent to the bill since it was first introduced. He remains opposed to the bill

“ The Safe-T Act has did the complete opposite of its title. The Safe T Act doesn’t allow judges to lock up those who possess or disseminate child porn, drug dealers, or burglars,” Starman said. “There’s no logical explanation that allowing a drug dealer or child predator makes us safer as a society. “

Starman said he didn’t think there was a huge issue with the current practice with low level offenses, like simple thefts, minor drug possessions, and other minor offenses.

“There’s good and bad parts of the Safe T Act. I’m all for body cameras and accountability,” he said. “The current no cash bail system is a joke and needs to go. I’d pray cooler heads will prevail and they can rework the bill, but it appears the president and governor have no plans to work together, so I’ll wait and see what happens. My prediction is that the president will attempt to overturn it, but a liberal Illinois judge will reinstate it and we will continue with the same system.”

Repeal of the SAFE-T-Act could be a windfall for Pike County

By BETH ZUMWALT

Prior to the SAFE-T-Act being implemented, most of those charged with a crime would be given an amount of money they could post and be free while awaiting trial.

The circuit clerk’s office collected the bonds, either from the defendants themselves or from the jail, where the bond was posted.

“Then, if necessary, we refunded the bail to them if the charges were dropped or they were found not guilty,” Bryce Gleckler, Pike County Circuit Clerk, said. “We would retain 10 percent of the amount for administrative costs.”

If the defendant was found guilty of their accused crimes, the bond, most likely, would be applied to the fines accessed at sentencing.

But, with no bond, the clerk’s office is not collecting 10 percent of bail money. And currently the circuit clerk is sitting on thousands of dollars of unpaid fines.

“That has really hurt us,’ Gleckler said. “That and the legislation of cannabis. We used to collect a lot of money from cannabis infractions.”