Illinois SAFE-T Act Policing Implementation

Overview

The Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act represents one of the most significant policing reforms in the state’s history, designed to promote transparency, accountability, and community trust in law enforcement. In 2024, Illinois legislators established the Workgroup to Implement the SAFE-T Act Policing Provisions, managed by the Illinois Justice Project (ILJP) in partnership with CEPP.

The workgroup brings together state and local law enforcement leaders, community organizations, and academics to assess the implementation of the act’s key policing provisions and to develop strategies for continued improvement. CEPP contributes national expertise in evidence-based system change and serves a central role in managing and facilitating the workgroup and its subcommittees.

Our Approach

The project unfolds in two coordinated phases:

Assessment Phase (March 2024–April 2025)

With expertise and facilitation from CEPP and ILJP, the workgroup assessed the statewide implementation progress of five core policing provisions from the SAFE-T Act:

1. Reporting Requirements
2. Use of Force Policy
3. Body-Worn Cameras
4. Training Requirements
5. Discretionary Decertification

This phase culminated in the workgroup’s release of the Preliminary Assessment Report on Implementation (April 2025), which identified areas of success, such as strong statewide commitment to compliance and expanded training efforts, and ongoing challenges, including uneven implementation capacity and resource gaps between agencies.

Recommendation Phase (May 2025–April 2026)

Building on the assessment findings, CEPP is helping lead the next stage of the workgroup’s effort: convening subcommittees to develop targeted, actionable recommendations to strengthen statewide implementation.

Each subcommittee corresponds to one of the five focus areas, drawing on diverse representation from law enforcement, community members, and subject-matter experts. CEPP staffs each committee and facilitates monthly meetings, guides discussions, and ensures that recommendations are informed by national best practices in police training and accountability. CEPP and ILJP are preparing a final report of the recommendations.

The Impact

Through this collaboration, CEPP supports Illinois’s goal of implementing the SAFE-T Act’s policing provisions with fidelity and transparency. The initiative is designed to:

• Improve relationships and trust between law enforcement and community members
• Advance equitable and consistent policing practices statewide
• Promote accountability, professionalism, and transparency through clearer standards and data-driven oversight
• Strengthen public safety while respecting the rights and dignity of all Illinois residents

The workgroup’s Preliminary Assessment Report on Implementation serves as a critical baseline for ongoing progress, while the forthcoming Final Report of Recommendations will guide the next phase of implementation—offering concrete actions that state and local entities can take to achieve the act’s vision of fairness and equity.

Looking Ahead

Following the completion of the Recommendation phase, CEPP and ILJP may continue to provide assistance with statewide implementation and technical support, ensuring that recommendations are operationalized and sustainable over time.

This partnership exemplifies CEPP’s commitment to collaborative, data-driven change, helping jurisdictions translate policy into practice to build safer, fairer, and more trusted justice systems.