Mayor Keith Pekau has slammed the way a 'purge' law was passed after calling it 'unacceptable'.
The controversial SAFE-T Act has been compared to 2013's The Purge movie, where the plot sees all crime being legalised for just one day of the year.
Watch below as the Orland Park Mayor refers to the law as 'dangerous':
Illinois has become the first US state to pass such a law, which aims to ban cash bail in the entirety of the state for a total of 12 non-detainable offences, including:
- The elimination of monetary bail
- A requirement that all police officers wear body cameras by 2025
- A ban on all police chokeholds, new guidelines for "decertification" of police officers
- An end to suspended licenses for failure to pay
- A ban on police departments purchasing military equipment
- An increase of protection for whistleblowers
- An addition of rights for detainees to make phone calls and access their personal contacts before police questioning
"Detention only shall be imposed when it is determined that the defendant poses a specific, real and present threat to a person, or has a high likelihood of wilful flight," the bill states.
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Mayor Pekau has slammed the act and questions how 'it was passed in the middle of the night, with 40 minutes to read an 800 page bill'.
"I can't even begin to tell you how dangerous this act is," the Mayor said.
"First, it is unacceptable. As of January 1 2023, the following things will go into effect and people need to be aware of this.
"It abolishes cash bail for almost every offence."
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He continued: "This includes, but isn't limited to kidnapping, armed robbery, second degree murder, drug induced homicide, aggravated DUI, threatening a public official and aggravated fleeing and eluding.
"Offenders released on electronic monitoring have to be in violation for 48 hours before law enforcement can act.
"They could almost drive to Alaska before we can even look for them.
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"It denies victims their constitutional rights.
"And keep this in mind businesses and homeowners, officers will no longer be able to remove trespassers from your residence or your businesses.
"Someone could decide to live in your shed and all we can do is give them a ticket.
"You have to decide what level of force is required to remove them. And whether or not it's legal."
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The SAFE-T Act will come into play in the midwestern state of Illinois from 1 January 2023.
Anish Vij