What the SAFE-T Act means for public safety facilities of the future

Several years into the passage of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, Illinois’ justice system has moved past initial reactions and into a more nuanced phase defined by real-world impacts and continued uncertainty. In some jurisdictions, jail populations dropped immediately following implementation, only to stabilize or trend back toward previous levels. Others are seeing more variability tied to local enforcement and court operations. Across the board, agencies are still working to understand what these shifts mean for their long-term outlook.

For facility planning, this means decisions about capacity and the ways staffing and space should evolve in response are being made in a fluid environment.

3 changes we’re seeing across public safety systems

1. Jails are housing fewer people, but with greater complexity

As more non-violent offenders are allowed to stay in the community pretrial, many counties are seeing fewer people held in detention overall. That shift comes with a tradeoff: the population that remains is often higher risk, with more behavioral challenges and greater supervision needs. This fundamentally changes how jails need to function:

• Less demand for large-scale, dormitory-style housing
• Greater need for secure, individual housing units
• Increased emphasis on staff visibility and safety

2. Court systems and public defenders are managing with fewer resources

While jail populations may decline, court activity hasn’t slowed. The elimination of bond-related revenue has reduced funding for many circuit clerks, even as case volumes persist or grow. At the same time, public defenders are experiencing increasing caseloads. As a result, impacted jurisdictions anticipate that significant staffing increases will be needed to keep pace. From a facility standpoint, the pressure is felt for more behind-the-scenes support space:

• Additional offices and work areas for legal teams
• More meeting and collaboration spaces
• Increased pressure on existing courthouse infrastructure

3. Sheriff’s offices are seeing new operational demands

Pretrial detention changes are also increasing day-to-day demands on law enforcement, with officers managing a larger population awaiting trial. Sheriff’s offices are seeing higher rates of missed court appearances, leading to more warrants, slower interactions at every traffic stop and other routine functions, and greater administrative workload that comes with new facility needs:

• Larger briefing and report-writing areas
• Expanded support spaces for growing staff (locker rooms, break rooms)
• Additional operational infrastructure (parking areas and logistics)

What you should consider before building

At Wold, we approach challenges through close collaboration with our clients. Every county is experiencing the impacts of the SAFE-T Act differently. The most effective solutions come from understanding the nuances.

• Validate before you build: Start with updated population projections, operational assessments and stakeholder input. Right-sizing facilities is more critical than ever.
• Plan for flexibility: Spaces should be designed to adapt over time, whether that means reconfigurable housing units, multi-use support areas or phased expansion strategies.
• Rebalance space priorities: Shift emphasis away from large-scale detention and toward secure housing, intake, assessment and staff support spaces.
• Support the people behind the system: Increased staffing demands mean more space for public defenders, law enforcement and administrative teams.
• Leverage existing assets: Many existing facilities can be repositioned or modernized to align with new operational realities rather than replaced entirely.

What this means for counties planning ahead

The SAFE-T Act introduces a new layer of complexity and an opportunity to plan more strategically. County leaders should be asking:

• Are our space needs based on current data?
• How might population trends and their impact on what we ask of our facilities continue to shift?
• Where do we need flexibility to adapt to future policy or operational changes?

If you’re evaluating how the SAFE-T Act may impact your facilities, our team can help you assess needs and plan for what’s ahead. Connect with Wold to start a conversation today.