Time served in prison should be just that: time served. Once men and women have completed their sentences, they’ve paid their debt to society, as the saying goes. But for too many people, their sentence stretches far beyond the amount of time set by a judge. Their record stands in the way of jobs, stable housing, education and opportunities for decades to come.

Barriers to successful reentry, or what we call permanent punishments, affect every person who has been touched by the system. Job applications ask people to disclose if they’ve ever been convicted of a felony. Landlords often reject renters with criminal backgrounds. State and federal benefits may even be denied. These permanent punishments of past incarceration include legal, economic and societal obstacles that make it difficult for people to rebuild their lives and chart a new course forward.

It doesn’t have to stay that way. To effectively break down these barriers and put an end to permanent punishments, the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments is working diligently with various state and local officials, organizations, companies and individuals to bring awareness to the ongoing challenges facing those who have been previously incarcerated and spur change.

Our group, made up of Illinoisans who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system, met this month to reaffirm our platform and priorities with a focus on advancing safety, stability and prosperity for all.

After successfully helping the passage of the Clean Slate Act into law, automating the sealing of eligible records, the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments is now working to ensure that this law is being implemented properly and funded accordingly. Clean Slate, once funded, will standardize and streamline the process of sealing records eligible for expungement, opening doors that were previously closed to the formerly incarcerated population.

Building on that success, we are pushing legislation to create a Permanent Punishment Review Task Force. This task force will study Illinois’ permanent punishment laws, identify factors for modifying or eliminating them, evaluate models for periodic review and recommend changes to the General Assembly. The House passed legislation that allows the creation of the task force — House Bill 5091 — in the spring. Now, we need to get it across the finish line when the Senate returns for veto session in November.

The Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments is also working to pass the Home for Good legislation through the Senate. This legislation aims to create a comprehensive statewide strategy to improve housing and support services for people returning from prison. Access to affordable housing is another key component to ensuring a smooth reentry back into society. Not only is stable housing vital to help ensure people can meet the conditions of their release, it also provides the security needed to maintain a job, pursue education and address physical and mental health issues. We also know that increasing access to housing reduces recidivism, which helps advance public safety while also saving taxpayers money.

The benefits of these efforts reach far beyond the individual. When we remove barriers that prevent people from truly being able to live freely, we can build stronger communities that benefit everyone.

Those who have been impacted by permanent punishments will continue to share their stories and push for change. We urge policymakers across Illinois to listen and act on the experiences of your constituents to ensure that they are able to break free of the systems that are holding them back and contribute to a stronger Illinois for all.

Marlon Chamberlain is the founding executive director of the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments.