Illinois State Representative Kevin Schmidt said on May 13 that improving public safety remains his top priority, as he criticized recent legislation supported by Democrats. Schmidt said that the SAFE-T Act and its Pre-Trial Fairness Act provision, which abolished cash bail in Illinois, have created a “revolving door for dangerous criminals to remain on the streets instead of behind bars.”
Schmidt argued that every resident deserves to live free from fear while working and raising families, but recent laws have made communities less safe. “The SAFE-T Act has made communities less safe and criminals even more brazen. We must prioritize the safety of Illinois residents and that starts with public safety reforms,” Schmidt said.
He pointed to House Bill 5757, which he cosponsors, as an example of needed reform. The bill would prevent individuals who commit a new felony while on pretrial release from remaining in the community. He also noted that House Republicans have introduced more than 40 bills aimed at fixing flaws in the SAFE-T Act, strengthening accountability, and restoring balance to Illinois’ criminal justice system.
Schmidt questioned how Democrats could continue supporting current policies given recent tragedies involving law enforcement officers and violent crime suspects released under home confinement conditions. He cited a case where a suspect with numerous prior arrests was released before allegedly committing an arson attack on Chicago’s CTA Blue Line.
“We must bring back commonsense policies that improve public safety for every community in Illinois,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt was elected as a Republican to represent Illinois’ 114th House District in 2023, succeeding LaToya Greenwood, according to Ballotpedia.
