Illinois law now requires that prospective police officers approve the release of personal background records in response to last summer’s shooting of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman, in her home by a sheriff’s deputy who had responded to her call for help.

Illinois State Sen. Doris Turner said the act will determine "necessary guardrails to ensure we have good officers on our streets."

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday is expected to sign new legislation requiring more thorough background checks before hiring police officers, a law inspired by the shooting death of Sonya Massey.Massey was shot and killed by former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson in July 2024 inside her home near Springfield.