According to the Peoria County sheriff, the SAFE-T Act eliminating cash bail in Illinois has not delivered on its promise to reduce crime and improve court appearances.
Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins said in a statement the SAFE-T Act has seen court-appearance failures increase, reflected in updated data for the Peoria County Jail tracking jail bookings from 2022-2025.
Total jail bookings for 11 types of nonviolent offenses plus domestic battery have increased by 1,699, or nearly 28%, from 2022 to 2025, according to data provided by Watkins. The failure to appear rate has increased by 339 cases, nearly 16%.
“Peoria County’s data shows that while most violent crime is decreasing, the system is failing to contain repeat, high-impact criminal behavior that undermines public safety and public confidence,” Watkins said in a statement.
A report released Monday by the Peoria Police Department indicates shooting incidents were down 18% and gunshot homicides were down by 61% in 2025.
Under the no cash bail rule, charges such as burglary, theft, possession of certain drugs or domestic battery are not automatically detainable. A judge can decide whether or not the defendant will be detained, informed by the SAFE-T Act's guidelines.
“When violent offenders are released because prosecutors cannot meet an unfair burden, victims are betrayed, and communities lose faith in the system," Watkins said.
Watkins called out Gov. JB Pritzker’s recent suggestion he could revisit the SAFE-T Act.
“With the spring legislative session upon us, let’s see if the governor will stand by his word,” he said.
As Watkins claimed no-cash bail has weakened accountability for repeat, high-impact offenders, he also offered solutions for lawmakers.
First, he suggested expanding the list of detainable offenses because judges and state’s attorneys are "handcuffed by poor legislation."
“Current law only allows detention for a limited set of charges or when prosecutors can prove 'a real and present threat,’” he said. “This leaves out serious nonviolent and some violent offenses that still harm our communities. Burglary, and Fleeing and Eluding are very hard, if not impossible, to detain someone on.”
Watkins said they need to be given more authority to detain offenders who pose ongoing risks despite the classification of their offense.
Additionally, restoring cash bail for low-level offenses could also prove fruitful, according to Watkins. He said cash bail held an important middle ground, which now leaves offenders returning to their neighborhoods to possibly reoffend because judges cannot use it to ensure compliance.
“Reintroducing bail for low-level offenses would restore balance. It would also allow us to intervene with drug and alcohol-involved offenders, many of whom benefit from the treatment programs we offer in the jail, including Vivitrol,” Watkins said.
Finally, he said reinstating a daily credit incentive towards bail during detention would encourage good behavior, reduce unnecessary pretrial detention and help resolve cases more efficiently.
“Bringing this back would restore a proven tool that supported accountability without compromising safety,” Watkins said.
Watkins is running for re-election as a Republican candidate in the 2026 midterm elections.