Prairie State Wire

Violent crime in Chicago has long been an issue that many elected officials, organizations and media outlets have drawn attention to and discussed. More recently, with the implementation of the SAFE-T Act in January 2023, there are those who have expressed concern that the rest of Illinois will start to experience increased crime rates mirroring that of State's Attorney Kim Foxx's Cook County. 

One political action committee, People Who Play By The Rules (PBR) PAC, recently released an ad titled "Summer of Joy," which featured news coverage clips showing criminal acts committed in Chicago. The ad's intention was clear as the November elections approach: do not reelect the government officials, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who have supported the SAFE-T Act.

“Public Safety…or no cash bail? Law and order…or Chicago crime bleeding  into our suburbs and beyond?" PBR PAC spokesman Mike Koolidge said. "That’s the choice voters are faced with on November 8th and the usual suspects are doing all they can to distract us from that fact."

The ad begins with a quote from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, "It will be the summer of joy in Chicago" then quickly transitions into news clip footage depicting violent criminal acts and the sound of gunshots. Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow is quoted referencing the SAFE-T Act. "If that bill goes into effect our hands will be tied... all of their bonds will be extinguished on January 1st." The ad continues by stating that 100 of Illinois' 102 state's attorneys oppose the bill.    

The Ilinois Criminal Justice Information Authority website states that the SAFE-T Act enacts extensive reform impacting many areas of the criminal justice system, including pre-arrest diversion, policing, pretrial, sentencing and corrections.                   

The most contested aspect of the SAFE-T Act is that it would eliminate cash bail in Illinois. The bill noted it would be “presumed that a defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance” and may be detained thereafter if they violate certain conditions listed in 725 ILCS 5/110-2.                

Pritzker has defended the SAFE-T Act. One of the reasons he provided for his stance on the issue is the bill would protect criminals without the financial resources that "drug dealers" have and keep them from having to sit in jail for days, The Center Square reported.        

The "Summer of Joy" ad has been restricted by YouTube to viewers 18 and older, citing that the content might be inappropriate for some users, requiring the viewer's consent to proceed.