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Learn more about Initiatives to End Permanent Punishments in Illinois
Learn more about Initiatives to End Permanent Punishments in Illinois
Clean Slate Act: Automatic Record Sealing & Juvenile Justice
Clean Slate Act: Automatic Record Sealing & Juvenile Justice
The Clean Slate Act would automatically clear records for people who already qualify, after a set waiting period. That means millions of people could finally move forward with their lives, support their families, and contribute to their communities. It also means putting billions of dollars back into Illinois' economy through better jobs and higher wages.
Similar Clean Slate laws have been passed in 12 states.
Contact your state senator NOW
SB 1784: In addition to automatically sealing records for eligible people, the bill includes an amendment that states that no minor under the age of 14 who has not been found guilty of a felony shall be committed to a Department of Juvenile Justice facility. 🟡PLACED ON CONCURRENCE HOUSE AMENDMENTS CALENDAR, MAY '25
Senate Sponsors: Elgie R. Sims, Jr. - Robert Peters - Lakesia Collins - David Koehler - Mattie Hunter, Karina Villa, Mary Edly-Allen, Graciela Guzmán, Rachel Ventura, Adriane Johnson, Javier L. Cervantes, Emil Jones, III, Willie Preston, Ram Villivalam, and Napoleon Harris, III
House Sponsors Jehan Gordon-Booth - Margaret Croke - Camille Y. Lilly - Matt Hanson - Aarón M. Ortíz, Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Will Guzzardi, Robyn Gabel, Marcus C. Evans, Jr., Kimberly Du Buclet, Jawaharial Williams, Lisa Davis, William "Will" Davis, Debbie Meyers-Martin, Rita Mayfield, Thaddeus Jones, La Shawn K. Ford, Justin Slaughter, Michael Crawford, Carol Ammons, Kam Buckner, Curtis J. Tarver, II, Barbara Hernandez, Abdelnasser Rashid, Laura Faver Dias, Michelle Mussman, Diane Blair-Sherlock, Maurice A. West, II, Lilian Jiménez, Mary Beth Canty, Lindsey LaPointe, Norma Hernandez, Nicolle Grasse, Yolonda Morris, Sonya M. Harper, Gregg Johnson, Nicholas K. Smith, Kevin John Olickal, Theresa Mah, Edgar González, Jr. and Kelly M. Cassidy)
RACE (Reintegration and Civic Empowerment) Act
RACE (Reintegration and Civic Empowerment) Act
SB 1733: The RACE (Reintegration and Civic Empowerment) Act amends the Election Code so that any person convicted of a felony after January 1, 2025, shall have their voting rights and eligibility restored within 14 days following their conviction. And that no person shall be denied their right to vote, including those presently serving out felony convictions. All persons serving a sentence in an Illinois correctional institution shall have their right to vote restored by January 14, 2026. 🟠 RE-REFERRED TO ASSIGNMENTS, APRIL '25
Senate Sponsors: Lakesia Collins - Robert Peters - Rachel Ventura - Willie Preston - Mattie Hunter, Karina Villa, Celina Villanueva, Mark L. Walker, Graciela Guzmán, Kimberly A. Lightford, Mike Simmons, and Mary Edly-Allen
Home for Good
Home for Good
HB 3162 / SB 2403: "The Home for Good program would allocate $103 million for the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to support people with records through housing and community-based support services." 🟠ASSIGNED TO APPROPRIATIONS AND HHS COMMITTEES, MARCH '25
JOIN THE HOME FOR GOOD COALITION
House Sponsors: Maurice A. West, II, Rita Mayfield, Barbara Hernandez, Kelly M. Cassidy, Lilian Jiménez, Yolonda Morris, Kevin John Olickal, Mary Beth Canty, Bob Morgan, and Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
Senate Sponsors: Willie Preston - Mattie Hunter, Karina Villa, Rachel Ventura, Adriane Johnson, and Mary Edly-Allen
FAIR (Funded Advocacy & Independent Representation) Act
FAIR (Funded Advocacy & Independent Representation) Act
HB 3363: The FAIR Act establishes an independent Commission and Office of State Public Defender that will create a centralized and independent Illinois public defense system. ⭐PASSED SENATE & HOUSE COMMITTEE, IGA '25
House Sponsors:. Dave Vella, Kevin John Olickal, Justin Slaughter, Lisa Davis, Lindsey LaPointe, Kelly M. Cassidy, Will Guzzardi, Eva-Dina Delgado, Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Dagmara Avelar, Daniel Didech, Katie Stuart, Rick Ryan, Tracy Katz Muhl, Martha Deuter, Margaret Croke, Janet Yang Rohr, Natalie A. Manley, Nabeela Syed, Marcus C. Evans, Jr., Norma Hernandez, Lilian Jiménez, Martin J. Moylan, Terra Costa Howard, Michael J. Kelly, Sonya M. Harper, Michael Crawford, and Matt Hanson
Senate Sponsors: Robert Peters, Bill Cunningham, Willie Preston, Cristina Castro, Laura Ellman, Adriane Johnson, Karina Villa, Mike Simmons, Robert F. Martwick, Mike Porfirio, Mary Edly-Allen, Javier L. Cervantes, Mark L. Walker, Paul Faraci, Lakesia Collins, Emil Jones, III, and Graciela Guzmán
Community Healing Resource Centers
Community Healing Resource Centers
SB 1525 / HB 3798: Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Agency for grants to Community Resource Healing Centers (CHRC) for their operational expenses. 🟠ASSIGNED TO APPROPRIATIONS AND HHS COMMITTEES, MARCH '25
House Sponsors: William "Will" Davis - Sonya M. Harper, La Shawn K. Ford, Marcus C. Evans, Jr., and Gregg Johnson
Senate Sponsors: Adriane Johnson - Mattie Hunter - Willie Preston, Paul Faraci, Patrick J. Joyce, Steve Stadelman, Lakesia Collins, and Rachel Ventura
Learn More About Restore Justice Illinois' Criminal Justice Reform Initiatives
Learn More About Restore Justice Illinois' Criminal Justice Reform Initiatives
Sentencing Reform
Sentencing Reform
HB 3348/SB 2271: Stop automatically blaming kids for “harm” under the Accountability Theory—give judges discretion. Limits the use of Accountability Theory and ensures that possible punishment matches the person’s actual involvement. 🟢INTRODUCED IN HOUSE & SENATE, IGA '25
House Sponsor: Representative Lisa Davis
Senate Sponsor: Senator Celina Villanueva
HB 5: Expands judiciary discretion (judges can weigh their life story) for gun-enhancement sentences for young adults ages 18 to 20. 🟢INTRODUCED IN HOUSE, IGA '25
House Sponsor: Representative La Shawn Ford
HB 1241: Ensure any adult sentence for people under 21 is up to a judge, not mandatory by law. 🟢INTRODUCED IN HOUSE, IGA '25
Conditions of Incarceration
Conditions of Incarceration
HB 1428/SB 65 (Nelson Mandela Act): Cap solitary confinement at 1o days; ban it entirely for people who are under 21, over 55, have a disability (as defined by ADA), or are pregnant or postpartum.🟢INTRODUCED IN HOUSE & SENATE, IGA '25
House Sponsor: Representative Kevin Olickal
Senate Sponsor: Senator Robert Peters
HB 3713: Would protect the right of people who are incarcerated to receive their original, physical mail (preventing the IDOC from implementing mail scanning system-wide). ⭐PASSED HOUSE COMMITTEE, IGA '25
House Sponsor: Representative Laura Faver Dias
Opportunities for Release
Opportunities for Release
HB 3332: Those convicted and sentenced before 2019, who were 20 years old or younger at the time, can petition for sentencing review and the opportunity to come home. ⭐ PASSED HOUSE COMMITTEE, 🔴 FAILED FLOOR VOTE, IGA '25
House Sponsor: Representative Theresa Mah
SB 248: Removes some post-conviction roadblocks so those sentenced as youth can more easily ask for review. ⭐PASSED SENATE & HOUSE COMMITTEE, IGA '25
HB 3449/SB 2257: Amends the "Truth in Sentencing" rules so people earn “good-behavior” credits by completing classes, therapy, or job training. 🟢INTRODUCED IN HOUSE & SENATE, IGA '25
House Sponsor: Representative Justin Slaughter
Senate Sponsor: Senator Robert Peters
HB 2367: Eliminates provisions that a person must serve various percentages for particular offenses, i.e., "Truth in Sentencing." 🟠REFERRED TO RULES COMMITTEE, FEB '25
House Sponsors: Barbara Hernandez, Justin Slaughter, Lisa Davis, and Michael Crawford
SB 2256: Create a process to petition the court for a sentence review after serving 10 years. 🟢INTRODUCED IN HOUSE & SENATE, IGA '25
Senate Sponsor: Senator Robert Peters
HB 2546: Clarifies hearing eligibility and timeline. Expands the petition filing window to three years before their Prison Review Board hearing and assigns counsel one year before the hearing. ⭐PASSED SENATE & HOUSE, IGA '25
House Sponsor: Representative Will Guzzardi
Senate Sponsor: Senator Javier Cervantes
Next Steps:
Next Steps:
Get to Know Your Legislators
Look up your state rep and senator at ilga.gov.
Save their contact info in your phone.
Make Your Voice Heard
Call: A 60-second phone call is often more powerful than an email.
Email/Letter:
Subject: Support [BILL NUMBER] for Smart, Safe Justice
Dear Rep. [Name],
I’m [Your Name], a constituent from [City]. I urge you to vote YES on [Bill] because…
Thank you,
[Your Name & Address]
Social Media: Tag your reps, use #RestoreJusticeIL.
Join Restore Justice’s Advocacy Team
Sign up to get bill updates, training invites, and coordinated lobby days.
Attend a Legislative Training
Spread the Word
Share this guide with friends, family, faith groups, or book clubs.
Host a mini-screening of a criminal justice documentary and then discuss these bills.
Vote with Reform in Mind
Track which candidates support these bills; help with campaigning or volunteer on Election Day.
Donate or Fundraise
Even small gifts can keep advocacy efforts alive—consider making a monthly contribution or hosting a peer-to-peer fundraiser.
Other Resources:
Other Resources:
Illinois General Assembly Bill Center: Full text and status of each bill (ilga.gov).
Criminal Justice Podcasts:
Change Agents, the podcast seasons 4 & 5 – stories and profiles about pathways to full citizenship and the people who pave them
Ear Hustle – stories from inside and outside prison walls.
Justice in America – deep dives on reform topics. *The most recent episode is from 2020
Local Chapters: Many grassroots groups host “justice kitchen tables”—informal meetups to share ideas.
Restore Justice Newsletter & Events: Monthly bill trackers, success stories, and volunteer spotlights.
Every step, whether big or small, adds up. By educating yourself, speaking out, and mobilizing others, you help transform Illinois’s justice system into one that heals, protects, and restores.
Every step, whether big or small, adds up. By educating yourself, speaking out, and mobilizing others, you help transform Illinois’s justice system into one that heals, protects, and restores.
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