SPRINGFIELD – At a recent Capitol press conference, House Republican State Representatives laid out a bold legislative package aimed at improving public safety, recruiting and retaining police officers and other law enforcement officials, and providing assistance to victims of violent crime.
Those in attendance said there is a concerning trend we see here in Illinois where criminals are treated better than law-abiding citizens and as leaders, we cannot continue to jeopardize the safety of our communities. State Representative David Friess (R-Red Bud) said that great law enforcement begins with hiring and retaining great law enforcement officers.
Rep. Friess added:
“Since the inception of the House Republican Truth in Public Safety Working group in 2023, the group has met with law enforcement groups, retired judges, state’s attorneys and other stakeholders to develop the legislative package. Last year, many legislators on the Republican side held roundtables with law enforcement officers and prosecutors. The package unveiled in Springfield proves that Republican lawmakers took the concerns of law enforcement seriously and crafted legislation to address continuing issues.
“The legislative package focuses on supporting and protecting crime victims, giving judges wider discretion to detain people charged with felonies, and recruiting and retaining law enforcement while ensuring they are able to do their jobs.”