In Illinois, people convicted of offenses must serve a period of Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR) upon their release from prison. This system, distinct from parole—which was abolished in Illinois in 1978—requires the completion of the entire prison sentence before MSR begins, rather than allowing for early release.

The primary objective of MSR is to ease the transition from incarceration back into the community, providing crucial supervision and support. To achieve this, MSR includes conditions such as counseling, substance abuse treatment, and educational programming, all aimed at facilitating rehabilitation and successful reintegration. While the Illinois MSR program is structured to support reintegration, it currently lacks an effective mechanism for granting early discharge for people who have satisfactorily met all required conditions.

Senate Bill 1785 aims to extend Day-for-Day Good Conduct Credit (GCC) to individuals on MSR in Illinois, analogous to the statutory credit people earn during incarceration. This bill provides a pathway to reduce the length of MSR terms, incentivize compliance, and ensure individuals can successfully reintegrate into their communities.

• With over 19,000 people currently on MSR in Illinois, the existing system faces challenges in its discharge process, resulting in current MSR terms often extending way beyond the time necessary for people to complete all specified conditions.
• The current system lacks an effective process for granting early discharge upon satisfactory completion of required conditions.
• In 2022, the Prisoner Review Board (PRB) received 5,000 requests for early release from (MSR). However, only 2,430 requests were reviewed, leaving approximately 2,570 requests without a response. Impressively, of the requests reviewed, 85% (or 2,068) were approved for early discharge.

• Extend Day-for-Day Credit to MSR:
  • Individuals serving a term of MSR will earn Day-for-Day credit for each day successfully completed.
  • Each day earned reduces the MSR period by one day.
• Revoke Day-for-Day Credit for MSR Violations: If a person violates a condition of their MSR, the Prisoner Review Board may extend the MSR term by revoking earned Day-for-Day credits.
• Resource Reallocation: The enactment of SB 1788 will free up resources currently tied to prolonged MSR periods. These resources can then be redirected toward initiatives that improve public safety and rehabilitation efforts.
• Enhanced Compliance: By providing a clear pathway to early discharge, the bill encourages people to diligently comply with and complete their MSR conditions.
• Efficient Use of Resources:  The bill allows for a more efficient allocation of state resources, focusing on areas that directly contribute to public safety and community well-being.
• Supports Rehabilitation Goals:  Facilitates a more focused and meaningful rehabilitation process, aligned with the completion of MSR conditions.
• Reduces Unnecessary Supervision:  Eliminates extended periods of supervision that may not contribute to the individual's rehabilitation or community safety.

WHY SB 1785 MATTERS

• Supports Rehabilitation: Shortening MSR terms for compliance incentivizes good behavior and supports reintegration into society.
• Saves Taxpayer Money: Reducing unnecessary supervision saves state resources while focusing supervision efforts on thoseat higher risk.
• Addresses Unfair Supervision Practices: Many individuals on MSR face challenges finding employment and stable housing due to overlyrestrictive conditions. SB 1785 allows compliant individuals to be discharged from supervision sooner.

Please support SB 1785 to extend Day-for-Day Good Conduct Credit to those on MSR.