A new law in Illinois will work to transform the state’s probation and supervised release system.

The REFORM Act was passed with bipartisan support – including all Republicans in the House. Starting in 2024 the probation system will incentivize people on parole to get a degree or career certification and strive to address supervision in a much more individualized approach. Governor JB Pritzker says of the 260,000 on supervised release many go back to jail because they couldn’t keep up with finer points of parole.

The REFORM act will also only require drug testing when suspicion warrants and allows for virtual check-ins for parolees so they can better keep up with work, education or childcare.