The Illinois Department of Corrections has begun scanning prisoners’ mail to crack down on contraband in prisons.

The emergency rule change came after prison worker exposures and overdoses in the prison population last fall.

Prisoner advocates question whether the rule change will actually make prisons safer.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

The Illinois Department of Corrections has enacted an emergency rule change to prevent contraband from entering its prisons through letters and books sent to people in prison.

Under the rule that went into effect Aug. 14, IDOC will electronically scan mail and provide a digital copy or paper copy to an incarcerated person. The rule also specifies that books, magazines and other publications can on

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