Polling Reveals Strong Gen Z Backing for Reform; Students Mobilize Nationwide to Learn, Engage, and Advocate for Passing the Bipartisan Safer Supervision Act

**LEADERS FROM REFORM ALLIANCE, WHO ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED THEMSELVES, AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS AS UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE TOWNS HOST EVENTS**

April 7, 2025 – REFORM Alliance today announced its third annual Gen Z Day of Action, launching this week across 23 college campuses nationwide. Starting today, students will rally their peers to advocate for modernizing the U.S. probation and parole system, increasing public safety, and calling on Congress to reintroduce and pass the bipartisan Safer Supervision Act.

Criminal justice reform and public safety are a unifying issue for Gen Z. In a 2024 REFORM poll, 90% of Gen-Z respondents say public safety is important to them and 72% supported policies aimed at modernizing probation and parole systems, with 68% agreeing that these reforms would help reduce crime.

“My generation is acutely aware of the injustices baked into the current supervision system. We see how endless cycles of check-ins and technical violations can destabilize lives, families, and communities without making anyone safer,” said Michael “Rondo” Bonilla, Gen-Z Organizer at REFORM Alliance, who experienced the justice system firsthand while incarcerated on Rikers Island. “This week is about encouraging our peers to learn about these complex issues, understand the human impact, and raise their voices to demand smarter approaches that prioritize rehabilitation and genuine second chances.”

The scale of the issue is vast: nearly 4 million Americans are currently on probation or parole, representing two-thirds of all individuals in our criminal justice system. Advocates argue the current system too often traps people in cycles of reincarceration for non-criminal issues, straining public resources and hindering successful rehabilitation.

The Gen-Z Day of Action will channel this generation’s desire for change into tangible action. This year’s Day of Action is focused on calling upon Congress to reintroduce and pass the bipartisan Safer Supervision Act, which would modernize the federal supervised release system. The number of people on federal supervised release has tripled over the last three decades, now costing taxpayers $500 million each year while failing to make our communities any more safe or stable. Advocates believe we have an incredible opportunity to increase public safety and improve outcomes for people on supervision by passing the Safer Supervision Act.

“Gen-Z brings urgency and a fresh perspective to the critical conversation about public safety and our criminal justice system,” said Jessica Jackson, CEO of REFORM Alliance. “They understand that we need supervision systems that are effective, truly geared towards successful rehabilitation. The energy on these campuses is focused on identifying problems and advocating for solutions like the Safer Supervision Act. The core message from these young leaders is clear: the status quo isn’t working, and it’s time for meaningful change at all levels to build safer, stronger communities.”

Campus events will focus on educating students about the human and societal costs associated with ineffective supervision policies and exploring evidence-based solutions that prioritize stability and rehabilitation.

REFORM Alliance, supported by its Future Shapers Advisory Council, which includes C.J. Stroud, Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, Bryce Young, and Sophia Kianni – will host activations at the following campuses:

  • Community College Of Philadelphia
  • Florida A&M University
  • Florida Atlantic University
  • Florida State University
  • George Washington University
  • Georgia State University
  • James Madison University
  • Longwood University
  • Norfolk State University
  • North Carolina State University
  • Occidental College
  • Purdue University
  • University of Central Florida
  • University of Georgia
  • University of Indianapolis
  • University of Miami
  • University Of Richmond
  • University Of Virginia
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Virginia State University
  • Virginia Tech University

About REFORM Alliance

REFORM is committed to transforming probation and parole throughout the United States by changing laws, systems, and culture. Our goal is to replace America’s punitive criminal justice system with a restorative approach that is fair, accountable, and invested in rehabilitation, making families and communities safer and stronger. REFORM Alliance has passed 18 bipartisan bills in 11 states, creating pathways for more than 850,000 people to exit the system.