FRACTURED STATES weaves together the stories of 3 families from South Central, Los Angeles and chronicles the historic social and legal shifts surrounding marijuana/cannabis in the U.S. today. Told through the eyes of those most affected by decades of failed drug policy, this film intimately portrays the total cost of incarceration and the larger ripple effect imprisonment can have on individuals, families and whole communities.
Despite these harsh realities, Fractured States shines above as a hopeful tale of resilience in the face of insurmountable odds. It is a story that proves many of the people serving time for non-violent drug crimes are not always the hardened criminals people on the outside might imagine. They are sons and fathers, business and family men, just like their white counterparts, all working to find peace and justice within an unjust system, where tens of thousands are still imprisoned for marijuana-related offenses specifically. This is an industry that has now been deemed “essential” in many cities and states following the Covid-19 pandemic.
United states v. VIRGIL GRANT, iii
The imprisonment of millions of Americans didn’t happen overnight. Decades of harsh sentencing laws for non-violent marijuana/cannabis crimes have plagued people like Virgil Grant for years. One of LA’s first medical marijuana/cannabis dispensary owners, Virgil was held for six years in federal prison for owning and operating a business that was legal in the state of California when the federal sentence was served. Since Virgil’s release in 2015, California voters passed Prop 64 and Los Angeles has become the largest marijuana/cannabis market in the world. Through Virgil’s story we learn about this booming new industry and what he and others like him must do to establish an equitable place at the table in the same industry that led to their incarceration.
United states v. WILL ENGLISH-ROBINSON
Will English-Robinson has just been released from a 13 year sentence for federal marijuana conspiracy. Despite being a first time, non-violent marijuana offender, the stigma of being a felon will remain with him well into the future. Will remains on parole or “paper” for the next 6 years. His story begins still inside the system at halfway house in Hollywood, CA as he works to reconnect with his family and navigate the challenges of reintegrating back into a society that has changed dramatically during his incarceration.
United states v. corvain cooper
Corvain Cooper was given a mandatory LIFE sentence for marijuana conspiracy, tax evasion and money laundering in 2014. Cooper is the victim of the now infamous 90’s era crime bill, the “3 Strikes” law and the mandatory minimum sentences that came out of it. In 2017, Prop 64 effectively legalized marijuana/cannabis in California. Thus, Cooper and his family had a renewed hope for his release. This measure along with Prop 47 helped overturn Cooper’s two prior California state convictions (possession of 1 pound of marijuana and Codeine cough syrup without a prescription.) These expungements theoretically reduced his “3 strikes,” to just 1. But the court disagreed and Corvain Cooper remained in Federal prison.
appeals denied
Years of federal appeals went unheard and then in the summer of 2018 Corvain’s last and final appeal was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court. Another blow came months later after Congress passed the First Step Act, reducing mandatory life sentences to 25 years for non-violent drug crimes. Unfortunately, much of that law was not retroactive and did not affect inmates like Cooper.
clemancy for corvain
Then on Jan 19th 2021, Corvain Cooper received Presidential Clemency and returned to his family 2 days later in Los Angeles. His release would not have been possible without the support of social justice organizations like Last Prisoner Project and the CAN DO Foundation. CAN DO made national headlines in 2018 with their assistance in the case of Alice Marie Johnson, who President Trump pardoned and later honored during the 2019 State of the Union Address. Last Prisoner Project is committed to freeing every last prisoner, starting with the more than 40,000 people still in prison for marijuana/cannabis offenses.
BARBARA TILLIS
Barbara Tillis is the mother of Corvain Cooper. Barbara has been Corvain’s biggest advocate for clemency and throughout the film we witness Barbara’s unrelenting faith that justice will ultimately be served for her son. Through her story we explore the total cost of Corvain’s life sentence on her, his daughters and his community.