Since the enactment of the SAFE-T Act, which led to cashless bail in Illinois, Monmouth Police Chief Joe Switzer informs more arrest warrants for individuals not showing up to court have been conducted:
“I think we are dealing with a lot more warrant arrests that are for people that haven’t appeared in court. This whole cashless bail thing, we arrest them for whatever offense, they go get processed, and then they just get released again. I don’t think there is any deterrent in that type of process. I will remain optimistic for now. The way the state is, and the legislature is I don’t know if they will come down with any real changes that are going to affect much of what we do,” says Chief Switzer.
“I understand the basis behind it, someone that has access to money shouldn’t have an advantage over someone that doesn’t have access to money when you are having to pay the bond to get yourself out of jail, but again, there is no deterrent to the people that are committing these acts to not commit the act because they know they aren’t going to go spend the night in jail,” Chief Switzer adds.
Chief Switzer reports that for 2025, the Monmouth Police Department made 632 criminal arrests, issued 1,248 violations, and officer handled a total of 17,668 calls throughout the year.
