As 2025 comes to a close, all of us at REFORM Alliance are filled with deep gratitude for our colleagues and community, our partners, our supporters, and everyone who powered another year of momentum for freedom and public safety. Together, we continued to modernize outdated supervision systems, expand opportunity, and strengthen communities across the country.

Here are some of the milestones that defined this year.

The Safer Supervision Act Moves Ahead 

In 2025, we reintroduced the Safer Supervision Act, a bipartisan federal bill that will modernize the federal supervision system while increasing public safety. This legislation builds on years of research, advocacy, and the leadership of lawmakers, advocates, law enforcement leaders, and individuals with direct experience on federal supervision.

The bill launched alongside new polling from Fabrizio Ward, which revealed overwhelming bipartisan support across the country:

• 79% of likely voters support the Safer Supervision Act.
• In the 28 swing congressional districts expected to decide control of Congress, voters were five times more likely to vote for a candidate who backed the bill.
• This issue is personal, as 7-in-10 voters, and 8-in-10 Trump voters, have either experienced the supervision and criminal justice system firsthand or know someone who has.

Americans want safer communities, and they know that modern, effective supervision is part of the solution.

Progress in Virginia

REFORM worked with our coalition in Virginia to help pass HB 2252 and SB 936, transformative probation reform that received supermajority support in the House and unanimous support in the Senate. These bills allow for reductions to probation terms for compliance with conditions and behaviors proven to increase rehabilitation and long-term success, such as steady employment, education or job training, treatment completion, stable housing, and maintaining health care. The bills also leave room for the inclusion of other prosocial and positive behaviors.

The legislation included a reenactment clause, so we are looking forward to finishing the job and turning these provisions into law in 2026.

Andre Cooper knows the importance of these policies firsthand. After prison, probation treated him “like that same old criminal,” no matter how much progress he made. Still, he worked hard, built a graphic design business, and became an advocate for the very legislation that will help thousands like him.

Historic Expungement Reform in Maryland

In another landmark win, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the Expungement Reform Act of 2025 (SB 432), eliminating an unfair barrier that had blocked thousands of Marylanders from clearing their criminal records due to past non-criminal (or, technical) violations — even those from decades ago.

Maryland had already helped more than 150,000 people move forward thanks to earlier expungement expansions. But a court decision in the 2022 Abhishek case established a new precedent that barred anyone with a technical violation on probation from ever being considered for expungement – even if they had otherwise fulfilled the terms of their probation and met all the stringent eligibility requirements to have their record cleared.

The new law corrects that injustice, opening the door for thousands to pursue jobs, education, housing, and stability. This is what real second chances look like.

Pennsylvania’s Act 44 Turns Two

December 2025 marked the two-year anniversary of Pennsylvania’s Act 44, one of REFORM’s most significant legislative achievements. The law is delivering a fairer, more effective system—one that limits incarceration for technical violations, creates a streamlined process for early termination, incentivizes positive behavior, and more. According to experts on the ground, the law is working, bringing real change and second chances to Pennsylvanians on probation.  

Passing the law was just the beginning. We’re now working with all 67 counties across the Commonwealth to ensure judges, probation officers, and defense attorneys embrace and implement the new framework correctly and completely.

New Jersey Takes Action

Last year, our co-founder Meek Mill met with Governor Phil Murphy to discuss clemency and supervision reform. This year, the governor followed through, granting more clemencies than any governor in New Jersey history and committing to make supervision reform a part of his legacy during his State of the State address.

REFORM then worked with Governor Murphy, Assemblywoman Speight, and Senator Zwicker to introduce the Substance Abuse Recovery and Accountability Act, a bill that prioritizes treatment over incarceration for nearly 13,000 people on supervision facing substance-related violations.

We’re pushing to get this legislation passed before Governor Murphy leaves office.

Real reform starts with real people. Meet some of the individuals whose experiences on federal supervision are driving our push for the Safer Supervision Act.

Real reform happens when everyone has a seat at the table. That’s why we’ve invested deeply in building partnerships across every part of the country and every part of the supervision ecosystem.

Our State Coalitions

Our legislative victories are powered by diverse coalitions of local leaders who come together across political lines. In 2025, we continued building and strengthening coalitions in states across the country:

• Florida Safety Coalition
• Georgia Safety Coalition
• Illinois Secure Communities Coalition
• Indiana Secure Communities Coalition
• Iowans United for Opportunity
• New Jersey Safety Coalition
• Pennsylvania Safety Coalition
• Virginia Safety Coalition

These coalitions bring together law enforcement, business leaders, faith communities, formerly incarcerated advocates, and elected officials from both parties—all united around smarter supervision policies that improve public safety.

American Probation and Parole Association

Our partnership with the American Probation and Parole Association  (APPA) deepened in 2025. In January, we co-hosted a panel and work session at APPA’s Winter Training Institute in Las Vegas, bringing practitioners and policymakers together to discuss supervision reform. In August, CEO Jessica Jackson delivered a keynote at APPA’s 50th Annual Training Institute in New York, reinforcing the shared priority of improving outcomes for both officers and the people they supervise. We also partnered on job fairs that connected people on supervision directly to employers.

We’re grateful to APPA for their partnership and to their Executive Director Veronica Cunningham, who said this about our work together: “It’s rare to find an advocacy group that truly embraces everyone’s perspectives—from people on supervision and their families, to probation officers, administrators, employers, survivors of crime, and lawmakers across the political spectrum. REFORM Alliance does exactly that.”

Roc Nation, Team Roc, and the United Justice Coalition

Since REFORM’s founding, our partnership with Roc Nation has been central to who we are. This year, we returned as a sponsor at the UJC Summit in NYC, and CEO Jessica Jackson continues to serve on the UJC Advisory Board. The Summit brings together lawmakers, business leaders, advocates, thought leaders and law enforcement leaders who believe in building a better, fairer system— exactly the kind of coalition-building that has made REFORM’s legislative victories possible.

The REFORM Advocacy Institute (RAI)

We continued to grow the REFORM Advocacy Institute, our free eight-week program to train “Super REFORMers” in our bipartisan advocacy strategies.

Today, we have 83 Super REFORMers across 50 cities. These are grassroots leaders with lived experience on probation and parole who are passionate about changing the system. We invest in their leadership, and they work closely with us on advocacy efforts in their communities.

If you’ve ever been on parole, probation, or any type of supervision and you’re interested in organizing, advocacy, or changing laws, we want you. Learn more and apply.

Gen Z Day of Action: Activating 23 College Campuses

In April, during Second Chance Month, we hosted our third annual Gen Z Day of Action across 23 college campuses nationwide.

Gen Z has emerged as one of the strongest, most unified voices for reform:

• 90% say public safety is important to them.
• 72% support modernizing probation and parole.
• 68% believe these reforms will help reduce crime.

This generation understands that community safety and second chances go hand in hand. The Day of Action built momentum for the Safer Supervision Act and energized a new generation of advocates ready to push Congress to act.

Check out this inspiring op-ed from Kaylin Guzman, a young person who participated in the Day of Action.

One of the clearest lessons we’ve learned over six years: getting off supervision isn’t enough. People need jobs to support their families and employers need workers. Our supervision systems too often stand in the way of both.

In 2025, we invested heavily in connecting people on supervision to meaningful employment opportunities.

Indiana Job Fair

In August, REFORM partnered with the Marion County Corrections Office to host a full-service job fair in Indianapolis for people on community supervision. Industry-certified positions in warehouse work, sanitation, and other fields were available on-site, along with health screenings, housing resources, transportation services, and other critical support.

Restaurant Ready and Edgecombe

In New York, we continued our partnership with Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration on the Edgecombe Transitional Housing Pilot, a transitional housing program for people on parole. 

Central to this work is the Restaurant Ready program, developed in partnership with the New York State Restaurant Association. Participants complete a six-week certification program that prepares them for careers in the restaurant industry. In 2025, we launched new cohorts and celebrated graduates who are now working in kitchens across New York.

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Anthony Rivera, REFORM’s New York State Organizer, and Jarred Williams, our Partner and Engagement Manager, give us a tour of Free Food Harlem in action. Free Food Harlem serves free meals to the community every week. This event is part of the Restaurant Ready program at Edgecombe which helps formerly incarcerated people gain the skills they need to be successful in the hospitality industry. We’re honored to work with @odysseyhouseny and partners National Restaurant Association and NY Restaurant Association on this program. #REFORMAlliance #RestaurantReady #FairChanceHiring #CriminalJusticeReform

♬ original sound – REFORM

Real change shows up in real workplaces.
From small businesses to family farms, employers are proving that when people are given a fair shot, communities are stronger — even as outdated supervision rules continue to limit opportunity.

ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery

In Des Moines, we met Ed Kirkman, a former police officer who now co-owns ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery with his wife. Three of their staff members are currently on parole, but outdated probation and parole rules are blocking ChaCha’s from hiring even more people who are eager to work.

Second Chances on the Farm

At Early Morning Harvest, a family farm in Iowa, second chances are part of the work ethic. This farmer knows what it means to give people a fair shot and see people as more than their worst mistake.

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“If you make a mistake, you admit, you fix it, and you move on.” That’s the ethos at Early Morning Harvest, a family farm in Panora, Iowa, where second chance hiring is helping fill extreme labor shortages while giving people currently or formerly on supervision an opportunity to get back on their own two feet. 🌾 As a member of our Iowans United for Opportunity Coalition, Farmer Jeff Hafner knows that people who take responsibility for their pasts and work to rebuild their lives demonstrate good character and make for ideal employees. He shows up to work every day to give people a fair shot and sees people for what they’re willing to contribute today, not the worst mistakes of their past. We’re working with Iowans to make sure supervision policies and practices reflect that same belief: that everyone deserves the chance to learn, work, and move forward. Learn more and join us https://reformalliance.salsalabs.org/iowasnsunitedsignup/index.html #secondchancehiring #fairchancehiring #WorkMatters

♬ original sound – REFORM

We were delighted to cut the ribbon on our brand-new REFORM Alliance office in New York City. Our operations team worked hard to create a space worthy of our mission and our movement, and they succeeded. The new office is a place that reflects the energy, ambition, and heart of everyone driving this work forward. Friends, supporters, and partners joined us to celebrate this new chapter, including our co-founder Meek Mill.

Speaker Series Bringing the Community Together 

One highlight from our time in the new office was the continuation of the REFORM Speaker Series. The Speaker Series began as an internal event, during which REFORM staff could hear from leading thinkers and advocates in the criminal justice field. It eventually grew to become an open-to-the-public event, bringing in community partners and sparking meaningful conversations.

Our second annual REFORM Alliance Casino Night at the Ocean Casino Resort was nothing short of unforgettable.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room when James Severe shared how a technical violation nearly derailed his future and how a REFORM-backed law helped him rebuild his life. Today, he works as a TV & film coordinator at Roc Nation and is a dedicated father to his two-year-old son.

CEO Jessica Jackson spoke about the lives we’ve already changed and the ambitious road ahead.

It was a celebration of progress and a reminder of why this work matters. The generosity of our supporters and board members will fuel this work for years to come. We’re deeply grateful.

When REFORM Alliance launched in 2019, we set out to change the laws that trap people in an endless cycle of supervision. Seven years later, we’ve helped pass 22 laws in 12 states. We’ve created pathways for nearly one million people to exit supervision. And we’ve built a movement that spans every corner of the country. The momentum is shifting. The coalitions are growing. And we’re just getting started.

Thank you to our board, our partners, our supporters, and everyone who believes that people deserve a real second chance. We couldn’t do this without you.

Here’s to an even bigger 2026.

— The REFORM Alliance Team