An American story about an American crisis: inside America's largest jailhouse

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America's jails and prisons are bursting at the seams. Five percent of the world lives in the United States - and yet, the country owns 25% of the world's prison population. 


It's more obvious in Chicago than anywhere else where the Cook County Jail is overflowing. It's America's largest jailhouse but it is out of space.

This week on the Americans, Charlie will take you to murderer's row.

This isn't a story about the crumbling criminal justice system in America - and it IS crumbling. This is simply a conversation with men who have been accused of extraordinarily terrible things.

If guilty, why do they kill? And can there be redemption?

An American Story about an American Crisis - tonight on the Americans with Charlie LeDuff.