SCOTT: Will Illinois lose federal funding due to the 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.

Scott County State’s Attorney Rick Crews was opposed to the SAFE-T Act, which eliminates cash bail for those accused of a crime, from its inception.

“I’d like to see it eliminated,” Crews said. “I have no idea when or how it will happen. I have no idea what to expect.”

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, as early as this week.

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 flee 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.

C.D. Davidsmeyer, Illinois Representative for the 100th district, which includes Scott County, says he would like to see the SAFE-T Act repealed.

“I believe that the SAFE-T Act has emboldened criminals and is actually turning young hoodlums into criminals because they won’t be held accountable until they commit a larger crime, “ Davidsmeyer said.

Right now, JB Pritzker and members of his party are more concerned about yelling ‘Trump, Trump, Trump’, than they are about actually protecting Illinoisans. He’s pretending to stand up to some fictitious dictator. President Trump is doing what any parent would do with a problem child, focus on them and give them the tough love that they truly need.”

Davidsmeyer said his constituents hear the same talking point from the Democrats about crime and shootings, that it’s less than other smaller cities, per capita.

“To them I say this, are the lives lost in Chicago worth less than the lives lost in Memphis or St. Louis?” Davidsmeyer said. “If the answer is no, then we should actually be concerned about the greater number of lost lives. Lives are not measured as a percentage of population. They are measured in heartbeats.”