Rep. Weber Calls for SAFE-T Reform Two Years After Elimination of Cash Bail

Speaking at a press conference marking two years since the Pretrial Fairness Act to eliminate cash bail, a cornerstone of Democrats' so-called "SAFE-T" Act, took effect, State Rep. Tom Weber said we're seeing the painful real-world consequences of these misguided policies and called for reform.

"Offenders skipping court dates, victims traumatized as their assailants are caught and released the next day, judges' hands being tied because of the severe limits this misguided law has put on their ability to hold criminals behind bars," said Weber. "This is not justice; it's a reminder of what happens when our laws put criminals ahead of victims and fail to protect the innocent.

"We must reform these broken policies to ensure that public safety and victims are the priority, not criminals. Victims, families and communities deserve to know our laws keep dangerous criminals off the streets."

Weber and House Republicans have filed several pieces of legislation to repeal and reform these broken policies to ensure that public safety and victims are the priority, not criminals.

Weber has filed legislation to ensure:

• Judges have the discretion they need to deny pre-trial release to anyone who commits a felony (HB4104);
• Reform home detention standards so accused criminals are not able to effectively walk free with limited restrictions and get credit for a future sentence (HB4103, HB4125, HB4130);
• And reform standards so that criminals who fail to report a death or fail to assist someone in peril are not allowed to walk free (HB4127, 4128).

That exact situation happened to a family in Weber's district earlier this year.

Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez lived freely in our state for months after hiding the body of Megan Bos in his backyard as a direct result of the Pretrial Fairness Act.