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Pritzker signs bipartisan ‘commonsense, evidence-based’ bill to ‘make Illinois’ supervision system more transparent and effective’

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* This bill passed unanimously through both chambers and was co-sponsored in the House by Republican floor leader and former prosecutor Rep. Patrick Windhorst. The following REFORM Alliance press release can be read in full by clicking here

The State of Illinois today took a transformative step toward modernizing its supervision system and strengthening public safety as Governor J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 423 into law. The bipartisan legislation earned overwhelming support, including a unanimous vote in the Illinois House, for its commonsense, evidence-based solutions that make Illinois’ supervision system more transparent and effective. It is expected to benefit more than 260,000 people on supervision and save the state of Illinois $16.5 million over the next five years. […]

Speaking at the event, REFORM Alliance co-founder Meek Mill said, “When I was on probation, the system did much more to hold me back than help me succeed. And my experience is just a reflection of millions of other stories that go untold. So it’s an honor to be a part of making the system work better for families in Illinois and across the country. Speaker Pro Tem Jehan Gordon-Booth and Governor Pritzker, we thank you for your leadership.” […]

SB423 goes into effect January 1st, 2024, and includes these evidence-based provisions:

More than 100,000 people are currently on probation, parole, or Mandatory Supervised Release in Illinois, many of whom face insurmountable challenges under the current system. Instead of helping people turn their lives around, Illinois’ supervision system too often operates as a revolving door back to prison. A Department of Corrections (DOC) report revealed that more than 1 in 4 - or 25% - of people across the country released from prison end up back behind bars for a technical violation (non-criminal violation) like missing a meeting with their supervision officer) within three years of their release.

The law is projected to significantly improve outcomes for those under supervision in Illinois, enhancing community stability and safety. Illinois now joins several other states where similar reforms have strengthened public safety, modernized supervision systems, reduced the number of people unnecessarily on supervision, and produced better outcomes for families and communities. REFORM has now passed 17 bipartisan bills in 11 states, creating new pathways that did not exist for more than 677,000 people to exit the system over the next five years.

The press conference can be viewed here.

…Adding… You should really watch this


The bill passed both chambers unanimously and the signing is being celebrated with one of the most joyful and interesting press conferences I've seen https://t.co/aSfRul1YEV

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) July 28, 2023

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 28, 23 @ 9:49 am

Comments

  1. Yes. More of this, please.

    Comment by workingfromhome Friday, Jul 28, 23 @ 10:07 am

  2. This is governing; problem, find a solution, get support, educate, build the coalition, get it passed and signed… all bipartisan.

    Love to see this.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 28, 23 @ 10:30 am

  3. Those changes can definitely improve the effectiveness and efficiency of mandatory supervised release and are not controversial, which likely explains the broad support. However, the implication that most people returned to prison for “technical violations” of their mandatory supervised release is for “missing a meeting with their supervision officer” is completely false. Researchers at Loyola University examined in detail the reasons behind why people on mandatory supervised release were returned to prison and found most were returned for new arrests that occurred during supervision (new arrests, not new convictions and sentences, which is why they are considered “technical” violations and not new convictions) or because they could not find an approved place to live (mostly sex offenders). See their report at https://loyolaccj.org/blog/technical-violations-illinois for a better understanding of the factors that drive returns to prison for technical violations.

    Comment by ramblerfan Friday, Jul 28, 23 @ 10:36 am

  4. Any meaningful bipartisan stuff is good to see. Let’s hope this has some positive results.

    Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Friday, Jul 28, 23 @ 11:32 am

  5. A guy who lives near my vac home was out on parole and was sent back for drinking beer on his own property. Even though his original offense had nothing to do with alcohol. That just seemed petty to me. Why is that the business of the parole board?

    Comment by cermak_rd Friday, Jul 28, 23 @ 2:04 pm

  6. - A Department of Corrections (DOC) report revealed that more than 1 in 4 - or 25% - of people across the country released from prison end up back behind bars for a technical violation (non-criminal violation) like missing a meeting with their supervision officer) within three years of their release. -

    Doin’ life…on the installment plan.

    Comment by Dotnonymous x Friday, Jul 28, 23 @ 3:32 pm

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