Brown County joins lawsuit challenging “SAFE-T Act”

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Brown County’s law enforcement officials have joined several of their colleagues from across the state to sue and challenge the legality of what is commonly known as the “SAFE-T Act.”

On Monday, Brown County State’s Attorney Mike Hill and Sheriff Justin Oliver joined the suit against Illinois statewide officials Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Speaker of the House Chris Welch, Senate President Donald F. Harmon and Gov. JB Pritzker.

House Bill 3653/Public Act 101-652 is the legal name of the “SAFE-T Act.”

“Sheriff Oliver and myself took an oath to protect the people of Brown County and of the State of Illinois,” Hill said in a news release. “We also swore to uphold the Constitution of the State of Illinois and of these United States. The “SAFE-T Act” is not only an abomination that contradicts itself in numerous places, but it was passed in violation of statutory provisions, established case law and provisions of the Illinois Constitution, and it puts the people of Brown County in danger. This, we cannot abide.”

Hill added that regardless of political considerations, he believes the law was passed illegally and should be void.

“Illinois legislators have ignored our constitution, and the results will be a catastrophic surge in criminal offenses,” he said. “The unconstitutional and unsafe ‘SAFE-T Act’ must be broken down, taken apart, and all of the pieces must be looked at carefully in the light of day, by all stakeholders. Judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement agencies, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, victim advocacy groups and many other organizations must be allowed to have input on this issue.

“Ultimately, regardless of whether you agree with some, none, or all of the provisions of the ‘SAFE-T Act,’ amending the Illinois Constitution requires a referendum of the people. It cannot be done by unlawful actions of legislators.”

Brown County joins Will, McHenry and Kankakee counties in the suit.