Evaluating the Pretrial Reforms in Illinois’ SAFE-T Act

This event is hosted by The League of Women Voters Winnetka-Northfield Kenilworth. Visit my.lwv.org/illinois/winnetka-northfield-kenilworth for more information.

This presentation will provide an overview of the changes made to Illinois’ pretrial practices through the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, along with findings from a large-scale, long-term evaluation of the implementation and impact of these changes across Illinois being conducted by Loyola University Chicago’s Center for Criminal Justice.

Dr. David Olson, Professor and co-Director of Loyola’s Center for Criminal Justice, will be the presenter. Prior to his position at Loyola, David worked as a senior scientist at the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. During his nearly 40 year career in the field of criminal justice, Dr. Olson has worked with a variety of federal, state, and local agencies, and numerous task forces and commissions, to develop and evaluate criminal justice programs and policies. Dr. Olson currently serves as chair of the advisory boards of the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, and is a member of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Judicial College Committee on Pretrial Education and the Illinois Department of Human Services Firearm Violence Research Group. Dr. Olson received his B.S. in Criminal Justice from Loyola University Chicago, his M.A. in Criminal Justice and his Ph.D. in Political Science/Public Policy Analysis, both from the University of Illinois at Chicago.