Controversial 'purge' law in US state is now just over two weeks away

A law that has caused complete controversy worldwide is now just a matter of weeks away from taking effect.

The first ever 'Purge' law is set to start in the New Year on 1 January, 2023.

Causing contention nationwide, the legislation has been associated with the five-film strong franchise, which began back in 2013 with the latest addition being released just last year.

The concept of the films revolves around a law that all crime is legalised for just one day of the year.

The actual name is the SAFE-T Act and the state of Illinois is making history as the first US state to pass it.

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Governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, disclosed that discussions will take place on the SAFE-T act following his election.

Speaking to reporters, Pritzker stated: "There's a lot of work that's been done by the General Assembly over the last number of months and working groups.

"And so they're going to bring that to the veto session and I'll be watching carefully. I've made my thoughts clear. And we'll see if we can get something done during the veto session to address the changes that we ought to be making," he added.

Standing for ‘Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today’, the new Illinois act seeks to ban cash bail in the entirety of the state for a total of 12 non-detainable offences.

Some of which include some seriously violent crimes like second-degree murder, aggravated battery, kidnapping and arson.

Approved by the Illinois General Assembly last year, the act attempts bring about "significant changes" to a whole host of elements of the justice system from police training policies to transparency in law enforcement.

Some of the changes that will be made under the SAFE-T act?

• 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

People are likening the SAFE-T Act to The Purge movies most significantly because the provisions of the bill allow judges to determine whether or not individuals accused of a certain crime pose a risk to another individual, or to the wider community at large.

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If the judge concludes that an individual suspected of committing the crime , then the defendant could end up being held in jail prior to their trial date.

According to the bill itself: "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."

Receiving backlash, some Republican critics of the bill put forward the argument that as cash bail is part of Illinois' constitution - a law like the SAFE-T Act cannot eliminate the policy.

argue that since cash bail is included in the state’s constitution that a bill cannot eliminate the policy

The SAFE-T Act will come into play in the midwestern state of Illinois from 1 January 2023.