At a glance

House Bill 5287, known as the Credit for Change Act, proposes a significant overhaul of how sentence credits are awarded in Illinois. If enacted, the measure would eliminate current restrictions that limit how much time certain inmates can earn off their sentences based on their specific offense. Instead, it would establish a standard where most incarcerated individuals receive one day of credit for every day served, effectively reducing their court-imposed sentence by half.

The bill applies this new standard retroactively. It mandates that the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) recalculate the release dates of all currently incarcerated persons within six months of the law’s effective date, regardless of when they were convicted or sentenced. The legislation is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, if passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor.

What the bill would do

Under current Illinois law, the amount of sentence credit an individual can earn depends heavily on the specific offense for which they were convicted. For many serious violent crimes, such as first-degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault, and armed robbery, inmates are restricted to earning only 4.5 days of credit per month. For certain drug trafficking offenses, the limit is 7.5 days per month. This means individuals convicted of these crimes must serve a much larger percentage of their original sentence before becoming eligible for release.

HB5287 seeks to remove these offense-specific caps. The amended text of the Unified Code of Corrections states that rules and regulations shall provide that "the individual in custody shall receive one day of sentence credit for each day of service in prison other than when a sentence of natural life imprisonment has been imposed." Each day of credit reduces the period of incarceration set by the court by one day.

The bill includes several key operational requirements:

  • Retroactive Recalculation: Within six months of the effective date, IDOC must recalculate the release date for every incarcerated person. This applies irrespective of the person's conviction or sentencing date. The department must credit each person with one day of sentence credit for each day they have already spent in prison on their current sentence.
  • Natural Life Sentences: Individuals sentenced to natural life imprisonment are excluded from receiving day-for-day credit while serving that sentence. However, the bill provides that if such a sentence is later reduced to a term of years, the individual becomes eligible to accumulate sentencing credit, which would be applied toward their new sentence.
  • Educational and Program Credits: The bill retains and clarifies additional sentence credits for educational achievements. Inmates can earn extra time off for completing specific milestones: 90 days for a GED, 120 days for an associate degree, 180 days for a bachelor’s degree, and 180 days for a master’s or professional degree. These credits are in addition to the day-for-day service credit.
  • Transparency Requirements: IDOC, in consultation with the Advisory Board, must make current materials about sentence credits available to all persons in its custody. These materials must detail eligibility, earning, revocation, calculation, and documentation of credit. They must be provided in print, on the department’s website, and posted in visible locations at each facility.

Why supporters may favor it

Proponents of the Credit for Change Act argue that the current sentencing credit structure is outdated and inequitable. The legislative findings included in the bill state that racial inequities in the current system result in Black people and other people of color being disproportionately excluded from earning day-for-day sentence credit. Supporters contend that ensuring all incarcerated people can earn equal credit for equal positive behavior is essential to advancing racial justice.

Supporters also emphasize public safety and rehabilitation. The bill declares that "public safety is strengthened when people have meaningful opportunities to change," citing research that rehabilitation and education reduce harm and promote long-term community safety. Legislative findings note that recent polling indicates strong public support for policies that reward rehabilitation and changed behavior.

Additionally, proponents point to operational crises within the prison system. The bill notes that IDOC faces billions of dollars in deferred maintenance and unsustainable staff-to-incarcerated person ratios. Supporters argue that responsibly depopulating facilities by awarding earned sentencing credit is a necessary strategy to stabilize the system and protect the well-being of both staff and incarcerated individuals.

Why critics may object

Critics of the measure may argue that eliminating mandatory minimum service percentages for serious violent offenses undermines accountability and public safety. Under current law, individuals convicted of crimes such as first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and armed robbery are required to serve a significant portion of their sentence. HB5287 would allow these individuals to cut their time in half, potentially leading to earlier releases for people convicted of severe harms.

Opponents may also raise concerns about the retroactive application of the law. Applying a new, more lenient credit standard to offenses committed decades ago could be seen as disregarding the sentencing expectations and judicial intent at the time of conviction. Victims and survivors of crime might object to the prospect of offenders being released significantly earlier than originally sentenced.

There may also be practical objections regarding the implementation timeline. The bill mandates that IDOC recalculate release dates for the entire incarcerated population within six months of the effective date. Critics could argue that this administrative burden is impractical and could lead to errors in release scheduling, potentially resulting in the accidental early release of individuals who do not qualify or the delayed release of those who do.

Who may be affected

The primary group affected by HB5287 is the population currently incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Specifically, individuals who are currently subject to restricted sentence credit rates—such as those serving time for violent felonies or certain drug offenses—would see their projected release dates move up significantly. For example, an individual serving a 20-year sentence for a violent crime who previously had to serve roughly 85% of that term might now be eligible for release after serving only 50%, minus any additional program credits.

The Illinois Department of Corrections would bear the immediate administrative burden of implementing these changes. Staff would need to process recalculations for thousands of inmates, update records, and ensure that new transparency materials are distributed across all facilities.

Victims and survivors of crimes referenced in the legislative findings may also be affected emotionally and practically by the potential early release of offenders. The bill acknowledges that survivors often seek accountability and conditions that prevent future harm, but the shift in sentencing credit policy changes the timeline for when that accountability is served in custody.

What the vote record shows

As of August 6, 2026, HB5287 remains in the "Introduced" status and has not yet been voted on by either chamber of the General Assembly. The bill was filed by Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-HD-027) on February 5, 2026. Since its introduction, it has gained several co-sponsors, including Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-HD-050), Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-HD-081), Rep. Kevin Olickal (D-HD-016), and Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-HD-019).

The bill was referred to the Rules Committee and later assigned to the Judiciary - Criminal Committee. In March 2026, it was re-referred to the Rules Committee under Rule 19(a). No roll call votes have been recorded for this measure in either the House or the Senate. For more information on the legislative process and civic engagement, readers can visit the Power the People homepage.

What happens next

For HB5287 to become law, it must pass both the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate in identical form. Following passage in both chambers, it would be sent to the governor for signature or veto. Given that the bill is currently in committee and has not yet received a floor vote, its path forward remains uncertain. Legislators may amend the text during committee hearings, potentially adjusting the scope of retroactive applications or the timeline for implementation. Stakeholders interested in tracking the bill’s progress can monitor its status via the LegiScan record or the official Illinois General Assembly page.

Sources

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