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On Thursday October 12th, nearly one month after the SAFE-T Act took effect, State Representative Amy Grant, now in her third term in the General Assembly, hosted a law enforcement roundtable with local police chiefs and law enforcement officers from the 47th District. The discussion centered around the current status of public safety in DuPage County and the State of Illinois at large.

"Every family in our state deserves to feel safe in their homes and in their communities," stated Rep. Grant. "One month in and the concerns surrounding the SAFE-T Act persist. With a daily influx of news about dangerous crimes affecting Illinois residents, it's clear that we must continue demanding real change in Springfield."

A central theme of the roundtable is the need to support and uplift our police departments and law enforcement agencies. At a time when there's a clear shift to favor criminals over victims, the emphasis must return to recruiting and retaining dedicated and qualified law enforcement professionals and fixing the problems caused by the SAFE-T Act.

"The flaws that still remain with the SAFE-T Act can be fixed if we adopt changes similar to the New Jersey model of pre-trial release. Their model, which is praised by prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys, grants judges the discretion to keep offenders charged with any criminal offense in jail before their trial" said Grant.

Another issue highlighted by roundtable participants is the strain unfunded mandates impose on local governments. For example body cameras, while crucial for the safety of both citizens and officers, are an expensive mandate that municipalities are often left to finance on their own.

"The state often passes laws without considering the financial implications on our local governments," Grant continued. "While tools like body cameras are essential for ensuring transparency and safety, the burden of their cost shouldn't fall squarely on the shoulders of our communities."

Attendees of Rep. Grant's event included prominent figures from local police departments and law enforcement agencies, representing several communities of the 47th District such as: the DuPage States Attorney's Office, Warrenville, Wheaton, Lisle, Carol Stream, Bartlett, Winfield, and Wayne.

"The public safety challenges we face are significant," said Rep. Grant, "but I stand firm in my commitment to building and maintaining relationships with law enforcement leaders and officers. Their invaluable role in safeguarding our families, neighbors, and businesses cannot be understated."