Susan Walker, a widowed mother of two in middle age, has a happy life with her children and her fiancé Russell. Then she discovers that Russell is dealing marijuana with his friends, and she breaks up with him. Later, to her horror, she's arrested as a supposed conspirator in his drug operation. To her incredulity, Susan is told by a lawyer that simply
knowing of the operation without reporting it makes her legally a conspirator and she can be on the hook for everything else by the most unwitting acts. She can't cut a deal with the prosecution, knowing nothing. The mandatory sentencing laws passed by Congress also punish drug trafficking very harshly, with no discretion for judges. Susan tries to fight the case but is convicted anyway and sentenced to twenty years in prison. Having to survive on the inside, Susan fights for some way of being released.
Tropes:
- Accomplice by Inaction: Susan and numerous other people are convicted even if they simply knew about drug dealing by others but didn't report it. Not doing so, by the laws, makes them equally guilty and co-conspirators in the crimes.
- An Aesop: The entire film is sending a simple message that laws that make even someone who's aware of but doesn't participate in drug dealing equally culpable are insane and get anyone imprisoned, not to mention also that the mandatory sentences are insanely harsh. The ending script mentions that thousands of prisoners in the US are doing time under such laws (c. 2002, but it hasn't changed).
- Crime of Self-Defense: Susan is put in isolation as punishment along with the prisoner who violently attacked her. Marquerite, the friendly chaplain, tries to help her by telling the warden, but Susan says not to, knowing it would make her be seen as a snitch, which is a death sentence. Later, this threatens her chance of having a commutation of her sentence.
- Disappeared Dad: Susan's husband died several years before the events of the film, which is especially bad after she's sent to prison and her kids are left with their aunt.
- Disproportionate Retribution: The judge openly says he would not give Susan twenty years if it was up to him, but statutory mandatory minimums for drug offenses tie the judge's hands so there's no choice.
- Good Shepherd: The prison chaplain, Marguerite, sympathizes with the prisoners (especially those serving long sentences for drug offenses due to mandatory minimums) and works on their behalf.
- The Pardon: President Clinton commutes many sentences of prisoners serving time under the drug laws' mandatory minimums, which gives hope to Susan and others sentenced by the same laws. Later, she is one of the other prisoners who have their long sentences commuted too.
- Psycho Lesbian: Ramona, a menacing lesbian inmate, hits on women aggressively whether or not they show any interest. Once she's been punished with solitary for using Susan's commissary card and blames her for it, her girlfriend June then attempts to stab Susan in revenge (of course, it's somewhat to be expected from criminals).
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Judge Markam openly disagrees with the law that he has to give Susan twenty years under. He later resigned over being forced to. Other judges are mentioned as even refusing to hear such cases at all so they won't have to pass such sentences. President Clinton also commutes the sentences of some prisoners serving time under these laws, which includes Susan.
