ILLINOIS PRISON PROJECT
ACTION FUND

Illinois’ current earned-credit system creates deep inequities in who has access to sentence-reduction opportunities. While many people in prison can earn time off their sentences by demonstrating good conduct and participating in educational, vocational, and rehabilitative programs, more than 13,450 incarcerated people are excluded from these incentives—despite having an “out date” and the same need for hope, motivation, and meaningful pathways to rehabilitation. The Credit for Change campaign seeks to correct this imbalance by extending the existing incentive structure to all incarcerated people with release dates. Under this reform, individuals who consistently follow rules, engage in programming, and invest in their personal development would be able to earn credit toward earlier release—just as their peers already do. The policy is simple: restore equal opportunity for rehabilitation and create a uniform system that rewards positive behavior and participation for everyone who will return home.

This change is not only about fairness; it is also a significant step toward racial equity. Of the 13,450 people currently denied equal consideration, 9,902 are people of color. Restoring earned-credit eligibility to this group would correct a major imbalance in Illinois’ carceral system and ensure that people of all races have access to the same incentives to learn, grow, and prepare for successful reentry.

By aligning earned-credit opportunities across the system, the Credit for Change campaign promotes rehabilitation, reduces unnecessary incarceration, fosters safer and more stable communities, and ensures that Illinois takes a meaningful step toward a more equitable and humane criminal legal system.

Illinois’ felony murder rule allows individuals to be convicted of first-degree murder even if they did not cause or intend harm. Accomplices—such as lookouts or getaway drivers—are sentenced as if they committed the killing, leading to excessively harsh punishments that fail to account for individual culpability. This outdated law disproportionately impacts young people and marginalized communities, trapping them in a cycle of over-incarceration while costing the state millions in unnecessary prison expenditures.

SB 1788 ensures fair sentencing by removing felony murder from the first-degree murder statute and instead creating a separate, stand-alone felony offense of felony murder. It also establishes a distinct sentencing range tailored to this offense, promoting fairer sentencing, reducing excessive punishment, and aligning Illinois’ criminal legal system with modern reforms and national trends toward proportional accountability. This reform allows prosecutors and judges to distinguish between those who caused harm and those who played a minor role, ensuring that sentences reflect actual culpability. By modernizing Illinois’ legal system to align with national trends, SB 1788 reduces excessive incarceration, promotes justice, and saves taxpayer money.

The Joe Coleman Act Medical Release Act created a lifeline to seriously ill incarcerated people in Illinois. This landmark legislation established for the very first time a compassionate release process allowing terminally ill people to petition the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB) for release under certain circumstances. The act addressed humanitarian concerns by providing an opportunity for those with severe, life-threatening medical conditions to spend their remaining days with dignity, outside prison walls.

SB 179/HB 1245 amends the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act to ensure a fair and transparent process. This bill requires the PRB to publish hearing dates, petitioner information, and decisions while prohibiting the imposition of additional restrictions beyond those outlined in the statute. By requiring decision letters, medical records, and cost data, this legislation strengthens accountability, builds public trust, and ensures that the medical release process operates efficiently and justly.