Prairie State Wire

Former Republican House Floor Leader Peter Breen said the new crime reform bill Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed would allow violent suspects to go free without having to post a cash bail strikes him as a bridge too far.

"I respect those that want to reform the bail system because often time low-level, non-violent offenders are disproportionately hurt by it, but when you take a gun and commit a crime, you should not be walking around the next day," Breen told the Prairie State Wire.

The governor signed the Police and Criminal Justice Reform Bill into law in late February.

"The people of Illinois want a governor that will be tough on criminals,” Breen said. “And while they also want fairness and to help those that have served their time to be rehabilitated, they don't want violent criminals freely walking around to maybe act out again while they await a trial that may not happen for year or more."

Among the changes included in the bill are the elimination of cash bails over the next two years, a ban on chokeholds and a mandate requiring that all police officers be equipped with body cameras by the year 2025.

"This bill was infused with the power of individuals most directly impacted, survivors of domestic violence, survivors of crime and those who have been detained pre-trial only because they are poor. We are a stronger state when we lift up these voices," Pritzker said, ABC 7 reported.

To a certain extent, Breen views much of it as just more pandering by Democrats.

"This whole movement to shorten sentences of violent felons and the act of letting them out of jail pending trial has been a mission of the left," he said. "I can't figure out why they think this is a good idea. There's nothing racially motivated about not wanting violent felons loose in your community."

Breen previously represented District 48 for four years ending in 2019.