County of Jo Daviess

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10/4/22

the United States and the State of Illinois. That is why today
attorneys and sheriffs across this state by filing suit on behalf of my office, Sheriff Kevin Turner, and the
People of the State of Illinois to challen
Safe-T Act.

Quite simply, I believe many provisions of No Cash Bail are unconstitutional, though this is not the
course of action I would have preferred. My suit, like those filed by other sta
position in several arguments. It is still my hope that a legislative solution is arrived at before 1/1/23
and that I may then move to dismiss this lawsuit.

Now that some , over four-fi

the state held a -track path
needs to be pursued.

The first track is a continuation of our efforts to work with receptive legislators and craft workable
changes to the law. Several Democrat and Re attorneys are withholding their own
lawsuits to demonstrate to legislators that we all share a good-faith basis in seeking legislative reform of
the bill. They are the ones leading the law enforcement side of discussions.

The other track involves individual counties filing suit. As you may recall from litigation over some of

one case. Either party has the right to request consolidation. A stay of enforcement was issued by
various courts, but the stays only applied in those counties that had filed and were part of a
consolidated action.

With that in mind, I have filed suit to protect the residents of this county in the event that a temporary
restraining order or other injunctive relief is granted in a consolidated suit. This was not a political

Jo Daviess County Courthouse, 330 North Bench Street, Galena, Illinois 61036
Phone (815) 777-0109 Fax (815) 777-3203
 County of Jo Daviess

decision. By filing suit in Jo Daviess County, if the implementation of these provisions is stayed by a
court in a consolidated suit for any reason, that stay would likely apply to Jo Daviess County.

This track of our joint approach will hopefully protect individual counties if meaningful compromise
cannot be achieved.

It is disheartening to hear a recent hardening of rhetoric from some proponents of this bill. Few, if any,
of those advocating for revisions of the current bill have called for its complete repeal. If that rhetoric in
fact signals their true intentions, then lawsuits like mine and others will become the only viable
alternative.

It does not have to come to that.

We are still willing to participate in a meaningful way if the powers-that-be in Springfield share that
desire. We are still receptive to achieving many
not unnecessarily jeopardize public safety.

However, Sheriff Turner and I are not willing to risk your safety solely on our hope for a legislative
solution. The suit filed in Jo Daviess County, and myriad other Illinois counties, are an avenue of last
resort if efforts for meaningful reform should fail.

Sincerely,

Chris Allendorf
Jo

Jo Daviess County Courthouse, 330 North Bench Street, Galena, Illinois 61036
Phone (815) 777-0109 Fax (815) 777-3203