Kemba Smith Pradia Story and the Fair Sentencing Act

Kemba Smith Pradia served 7 years of a 24 year sentence for crack cocaine before receiving clemency from President Bill Clinton.  As it turns out, she was incidentally involved in her boyfriend's crack dealership.  The facts of the case suggest that her sentence was unusually harsh.  Prosecutors acknowledged that she never sold, used, or handled drugs.  This year, the Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the Fair Sentencing Act, to limit harsh mandatory sentences and the unfair sentencing practices regarding powder cocaine vs. crack cocaine.  Kemba has gone on to complete a college education, raise her son and daughter, and establish her own foundation.  She points out that during the past 10 years over 5,000 men and women have gone to federal prison for crack cocaine offenses and were subject to the unfair sentencing structure.  There's more.  See the full story on CNN Opinion.


Thanks to Robert Belle for bringing this story to our attention