Prairie State Wire

On Monday, Gov. J.B .Pritzker signed the massive criminal justice reform bill despite it being opposed by almost every law enforcement organization in the state.

Opponents say the controversial House Bill 3653 will make it harder for law enforcement to arrest criminals and keep them off the streets. 

On his web site, Sen. Darren Bailey said the law is costly for the police, which might bring a reduction of officers, an increase in taxes, or both.

“This is a dangerous new law that will make our communities less safe, it’s that simple. I had hoped Gov. Pritzker would listen to the voices of people from across this state, including police officers, prosecutors, and every-day people, who urged him to veto this bill,” said the 55th District senator. “This new law will make it harder for police officers to arrest criminals, make it more difficult for prosecutors to keep offenders off the streets, and will force police departments to make cuts or raise taxes. By signing this bill, Gov. Pritzker has given criminals the upper hand over the brave men and women of our law enforcement community.”

The 764-page criminal justice bill was passed in the early hours of the morning after a long session. Its primary sponsors say the legislation was necessary to fix a racially unjust system.