People of color are disproportionately prosecuted and sent to prison for drug crimes in Illinois, found a new study by the Illinois Disproportionate Justice Impact Study Commission (IDJISC), a non-partisan group of policymakers, agency leaders, and justice professionals charged with examining the impact of Illinois drug laws on racial and ethnic groups.
Statewide arrest data showed that in communities of color, drug arrests occurred in 62 of Illinois' 102 counties, including urban, suburban, and rural areas. Racial disparities for drug arrests varied widely by county but tended to be greater in jurisdictions with smaller populations of non-white residents.
Access the study here.