Donald DeWitte, State Senator for Illinois’ 33rd District, said he supports the House GOP’s reforms to the SAFE-T Act to restore judicial discretion in detention decisions, but fears Democratic leaders may ignore their proposals.
“I strongly support the HGOP proposed reforms,” said Donald Sen. Dewitte, Illinois State Senate District 33. “Since its inception, I have opposed removing ANY discretion from Judges when determining whether an individual should be detained. While this proposal would re-establish that discretion, I fear it will fall on deaf ears with Dem leadership, to maintain a bad policy that garners continued political support for their ongoing progressive law enforcement policies, continuing to make our state less safe.”
House Republicans have introduced legislation to expand detainability and provide greater judicial latitude under the SAFE-T Act. They argue that current standards are too restrictive and result in the release of many high-risk defendants. This legislative push follows the law’s elimination of cash bail and its limited detention framework, which was allowed to take effect by the Illinois Supreme Court. The changes have intensified debates over judges’ authority and public safety.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has raised concerns about post-SAFE-T rules, stating that they have turned electronic monitoring into a public-safety risk. In December 2024, more than 1,500 individuals were on electronic monitoring, including over 100 charged with murder or attempted murder. Dart emphasized that lax conditions allow violent defendants significant freedom with limited oversight and called for changes to tighten detention measures to prevent avoidable crimes.
According to My Journal Courier, a case in Jacksonville highlighted how narrow detainability can lead to repeated arrests without intervention. A homeless woman was arrested seven times within 16 hours for Class B misdemeanors; under the SAFE-T Act, such low-level charges are generally non-detainable, leaving judges unable to hold repeat offenders even briefly to connect them with services. Morgan County State’s Attorney Gray Noll advocated for targeted fixes to restore limited judicial discretion.
DeWitte is a former St. Charles mayor and Kane County representative on the Regional Transportation Authority board. He was appointed to the Senate in 2018 and subsequently elected. Serving the 33rd District, which covers parts of Kane and McHenry counties, he sits on committees focused on revenue, transportation, and appropriations. His official biography emphasizes public safety and fiscal policy as ongoing priorities.
