PEORIA (25News Now) – A lawmaker behind a key trailer bill for Illinois’ recent elimination of cash bail is responding to some of the criticisms raised by Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins following an officer-involved shooting in Chillicothe.

According to Chillicothe Police and Illinois State Police, an officer was conducting a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle when they and the suspect, Marvin Martin III, exchanged gunfire. Martin, 50, was hit multiple times and likely died instantly according to the Peoria County Coroner.

The officer was also hit but is expected to recover.

Following that incident, Watkins made the following post to Facebook.

His reference towards lawmakers is directed at Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, a controversial law passed in 2021 that included multiple changes to the criminal justice system. The elimination of cash bail created controversy as some worried it would create a revolving door for certain crimes.

Watkins, pointing to multiple bookings for Martin, argued this was a case where he should have been held behind bars.

As it relates to the SAFE-T Act, possessing a stolen motor vehicle is not a detainable offense, as there is no allegation of violence towards an individual or community. That’s one of the requirements to detain a defendant before their trial.

However, if there is an aggravating factor or if the defendant has a criminal history they can potentially qualify for pretrial detention. Possessing a gun illegally or shooting at someone would also make a defendant eligible for pretrial detention.

Democratic State Representative Jehan Gordon Booth was one of the leaders behind a trailer bill ironing out the details of the SAFE-T Act’s implementation.

In a written statement provided to 25News, Gordon Booth said the law was built on “thousands of hours of conversation and negotiation,” adding Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos and Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria contributed to that conversation.

“I am and will remain fully committed to listening to all voices and bringing common sense strategies to the forefront for the betterment of our community and state,” she said.

​“The trailer legislation that I was asked to work on to help implement the SAFE-T Act was a result of thousands of hours of conversation and negotiation with statewide law enforcement groups, and it reflected input from our very own Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos and the Peoria Chief of Police Eric Echevarria. That effort to strengthen and clarify the law was supported by both grassroots advocacy groups and law enforcement groups, and we are continuing to work with those stakeholders and bring people to the table. I am and will remain fully committed to listening to all voices and bringing common sense strategies to the forefront for the betterment of our community and state.”

Of the 32 bookings Watkins referred to, many if not all occurred before cash bail was eliminated in September 2023.

Advocacy group Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice critiqued that point as well in their response.

“We are incredibly disappointed to see the Peoria County Sheriff take advantage of a tragedy to lie about the Pretrial Fairness Act and push his own political agenda,” the group wrote in a statement. “This is a continuation of right-wing fake news about the law that undermines community safety.”

The group went on to argue the monetary bail system did not rehabilitate Martin and may have contributed to his criminal behavior, citing a Harvard Kennedy School study on pretrial detention.

25News reached out to Watkins for a response to Gordon Booth and INPT via text, email, and multiple phone calls, but he was unable to meet with us Friday.

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