Kristin Love

“The first time I did heroin I was 16 years old …

“Your first time you feel invincible, [like] you can do anything, you’re talkative, a little sleepy, best mood you’ve ever had. Instantly I knew this is probably something I’m going to want to do over and over and over again.

“My parents, my family, my significant other, nobody knew about my drug addiction … until I called them from jail. It was the worst feeling. I could just hear the pain from my mom and my significant other. It’s the worst …

“When you’re a kid you’re told you can do anything. And when you have a felony hanging over your head all of a sudden you feel really limited … I was in college and I just thought, ‘If I’m going to have a felony what’s the point?’ It’s a tough time to get a job and if you have a felony on your record it’s going to make it worse. And I think it kind of makes you feel hopeless when it comes to careers and your future.

“People make mistakes and I’ve made many. Some people get caught some people don’t. But I don’t think making a mistake and becoming a drug addict and hurting myself with drugs is something that should affect the rest of my life by having a felony and going to prison.”

Kristin Love
Legal secretary, Will County State’s Attorney’s Office
Joliet, Illinois