A system flooded with drug offenders

Illinois' prisons are flooded with drug offenders, more so than any state other than California. Rachel Irwin reports on the reasons and the mostly unsuccessful attempts to address a complex and underfunded societal issue.

A mother recalls going to prison and leaving her 7-month-old son behind

In 1984, Joanne Archibald carried a kilo of cocaine from Chicago to Hawaii for her brother-in-law. She was sentenced to a year and a day in prison, and began serving her sentence when her son was seven months old. Archibald worked for Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers for 14 years and is currently associate director of Beyondmedia Education, an advocacy organization for underserved women and youth. She spoke with Rachel Irwin about her experience in prison and the effect it had on her relationship with her son.

Illinois Drug Facts

Slideshow of facts depicting how Illinois addresses the issue of incarcerating drug offenders.

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Drug Crimes
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