SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) spoke on the Illinois House floor during legislative action on Tuesday. Rep. Windhorst read a statement during debate on legislation contained in Illinois House Democrats’ anti-crime package. Windhorst has been a vocal advocate in favor of repealing the 2021 SAFE-T Act. Windhorst voted no on the 101st General Assembly’s HB 3653, which enacted policies that forbid pre-trial release for criminals that commit a multitude of violent crimes, including vehicular hijacking (carjacking).
Rep. Windhorst said the following:
“This bill is well intentioned, but it shows the dangers of the so-called SAFE-T Act and the elimination of cash bail. The bill creates a new offense, predatory vehicular hijacking, a Class One felony. That offense is commanding or coercing a minor under 18 years of age to commit vehicular hijacking, a serious and dangerous offense. But under the terms of the SAFE-T Act, this is not…is not…a detainable offense. Meaning, that after an individual is arrested for this offense, he would have to be released from jail pending trial within 48 hours. This is just one in a number of serious offenses, forceable felonies, that also require release pending trial. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a disaster…a foreseeable disaster waiting to happen on January 1st of 2023 if we don’t take action and repeal the elimination of cash bail. Thank you.”
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