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News: Two sisters freed of life in prison on one big condition
Banned
Member Since: 12/24/2009
Posts: 6,297
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Two sisters freed of life in prison on one big condition
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101230/..._pardon_kidney
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JACKSON, Miss. – For 16 years, sisters Jamie and Gladys Scott have shared a life behind bars for their part in an $11 armed robbery. To share freedom, they must also share a kidney.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour suspended the sisters' life sentences on Wednesday, but 36-year-old Gladys Scott's release is contingent on her giving a kidney to Jamie, her 38-year-old sister, who requires daily dialysis.
The sisters were convicted in 1994 of leading two men into an ambush in central Mississippi the year before. Three teenagers hit each man in the head with a shotgun and took their wallets — making off with only $11, court records said.
Jamie and Gladys Scott were each convicted of two counts of armed robbery and sentenced to two life sentences.
"I think it's a victory," said the sisters' attorney, Chokwe Lumumba. "I talked to Gladys and she's elated about the news. I'm sure Jamie is, too."
Civil rights advocates have for years called for their release, saying the sentences were excessive. Those demands gained traction when Barbour asked the Mississippi Parole Board to take another look at the case.
The Scott sisters are eligible for parole in 2014, but Barbour said prison officials no longer think they are a threat to society and Jamie's medical condition is costing the state a lot of money.
Lumumba said he has no problem with the governor requiring Gladys to offer up her organ because "Gladys actually volunteered that as part of her petition."
Lumumba said it's not clear what caused the kidney failure, but it's likely a combination of different illnesses over the years.
Barbour spokesman Dan Turner told The Associated Press that Jamie Scott was released because she needs the transplant. He said Gladys Scott will be released if she agrees to donate her kidney because of the significant risk and recovery time.
"She wanted to do it," Turner said. "That wasn't something we introduced."
Barbour is a Republican in his second term who has been mentioned as a possible presidential contender in 2012. He said the parole board agreed with the indefinite suspension of their sentences, which is different from a pardon or commutation because it comes with conditions.
An "indefinite suspension of sentence" can be reversed if the conditions are not followed, but those requirements are usually things like meeting with a parole officer.
The Scott sisters have received significant public support from advocacy groups, including the NAACP, which called for their release. Hundreds of people marched through downtown Jackson from the state capital to the governor's mansion in September, chanting in unison that the women should be freed.
Still, their release won't be immediate.
Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps said late Wednesday that he had not received the order. He also said the women want to live with relatives in Florida, which requires approval from officials in that state.
In general, that process takes 45 days.
Mississippi NAACP President Derrick Johnson said the Scott sisters' release will be "a great victory for the state of Mississippi for two individuals who received an excessive sentence" and he has no problem with the kidney donation requirement because Gladys Scott volunteered.
"I think it's encouraging that she's willing to share a kidney so her sister can have a better quality life," Johnson said.
National NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous said the suspension of the sentences represents the good that can come with the power of governors.
"It's again proof that when people get engaged, keep the faith, we can win," Jealous said.
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The fact that they each were even given two life sentences to begin with. I just
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Member Since: 6/10/2009
Posts: 6,321
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Life sentence for $11. Freed because of their kidneys.
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Member Since: 5/28/2010
Posts: 29,225
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Wait... stop the track.... $11???? Ch...
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Member Since: 11/2/2010
Posts: 20,295
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They only stole $11. 
A life sentence for that? What the ****?
Why not just make them pay a fine?
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Banned
Member Since: 9/13/2010
Posts: 14,033
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Life for an $11 robbery? 
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Member Since: 11/16/2010
Posts: 11,962
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I been following this case for a while. What they did NOT put in the article is that a man confesses to the robbery years ago. 
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Member Since: 10/28/2009
Posts: 26,465
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cherry
Life for an $11 robbery? |
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Member Since: 12/20/2008
Posts: 19,669
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They weren't arrested because of $11  It was armed robbery!!! They could've kill the victims.
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Member Since: 12/28/2010
Posts: 26,529
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thats stupid only $11...ch a hot mess!
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Member Since: 12/31/2009
Posts: 3,465
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This is such a mess. Most people say that they were released by the Mississippi Governor only because of some controversial comments he made recently, saying that he didn't think things were that bad in Mississippi during the Civil Rights era. Since he'll be running for President in 2012, he's trying to "fix" his image a little. So unfortunate that all of this was over $11.
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Member Since: 8/22/2009
Posts: 50,646
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Quote:
Originally posted by Airhead
I been following this case for a while. What they did NOT put in the article is that a man confesses to the robbery years ago.
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ARE YOU FORREAL?
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Banned
Member Since: 9/13/2010
Posts: 14,033
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Quote:
Originally posted by Brooke-lynn
They weren't arrested because of $11 It was armed robbery!!! They could've kill the victims. |
Still, an armed robbery where only $11 was stolen does not warrant life. 10-15 years, at most. 20-30 if someone was killed, which didn't happen here.
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Quote:
Originally posted by Brooke-lynn
They weren't arrested because of $11 It was armed robbery!!! They could've kill the victims. |
Keyword...COULD have. They did not, only hit them, and life sentence...******** 
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Member Since: 12/20/2008
Posts: 19,669
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cherry
Still, an armed robbery where only $11 was stolen does not warrant life. 10-15 years, at most. 20-30 if someone was killed, which didn't happen here.
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Agreed!!
I was just pointing out the armed part, everyone was just fixate on the $11
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Member Since: 8/22/2009
Posts: 50,646
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Quote:
Fourteen years ago in a small town, Forest, MS, two young Black women, who are sisters, were given a double life sentence. This sentence was for a crime, in which they did not commit. The alleged crime was Armed Robbery of two Black men. No one was killed or harmed during this alleged robbery.
Three young Black men confessed to the robbery. They also implicated that Gladys and me, Jamie Scott, were involved and participated in this crime. On December 24, 1993, Scott county Sheriff’s Department arrested Gladys and me for armed robbery. This was the beginning of a real life nightmare for everyone in our family: our parents, our children, and especially us.
Our trial began on October 4, 1994. Gladys, nineteen, and I, Jamie, were twenty-two years old. The three young men called the “Patrick Men” because they were related. Through coercions, threats and promises they chose to turn states evidence against Gladys and me. These men were promised a lenient sentence, in return for their testimonies.
During our trial, the tale began to unravel. One of the Patrick men testified he didn’t write the statement used as evidence against Gladys and me. He testified that the police coerced and threatened him with a long sentence at Parchman State Prison, if he didn’t sign the written statement. The Scott county Police used fear, threats, and intimidation against the Patrick Men to sign a statement against us.
This man testified regarding the coerced statement on the witness stand; however, the jury found Gladys and me guilty. We received a double life sentence.
Prior to our trial, the two victims who had been robbed went to our parents with a bribe. They requested a large sum of money in exchange for there disappearance and unavailability to testify against us. However, our attorney advised our parents to cease all communications with the victims.
We contend our innocence. Our parents believe in our innocence and the Patrick Men know we are innocent.
In 1998, one of the Patrick Men wrote a sworn affidavit clearing Gladys and me. But, the courts never heard the affidavit. The most devastating and unfair thing about this is the police and investigators know we are innocent.
What began as an implication and outright miscarriage of justice, has catapulted to destroyed an entire family. These accusations and subsequent convictions have totally destroyed mine and Gladys’ life. Causing a chain reaction which has led, Gladys, a nineteen year old, mother of a seven year old daughter and pregnant with another child, myself, Jamie, a twenty-two year old mother of three children; seven, three and one years of age, during the time of our arrest, conviction and sentencing for a crime we did not commit. Before being eligible for parole, we will have to serve a total of twenty years. We have exhausted all of our appeals in our fight for freedom. We now realize we are unable to receive justice within the Mississippi Judicial System. Our hopes and dreams of freedom lie with the American people. Who can become our voice and assist us with our plight for freedom. By voicing their opinions, speaking our against this atrocious miscarriage of justice, and a court system that has denied us our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We are compelled to plead and ask for a public outcry. Attention needs to be given to public officials and a county that refuses to let justice be served.
Our situation is complex, multidimensional, and heart-wrenching. We will never cease speaking out against the disservice done to us. However, we have discovered our voice carries very little weight, especially now, we are convicted as violent offenders serving a double life sentence.
Horror, frustration and humiliation of being subjected to life in prison for a crime, we did not commit, has made both of us feel hopeless and helpless at certain times; but we will continue to fight for our lives. This is a story that could happen to anyone.
My mother, Evelyn Rasco, decided to leave the state of Mississippi due to this “miscarriage of justice” inflicted upon Gladys and me. There is a great deal more to our story than what we are revealing presently. Events which have happened to us during fight for freedom.
Hopefully, someone will find this story worthy enough to be exposed and to show what has happened in a small town in Mississippi, during this time in America. Someone may decide to come forward and speak out against what has happened to my sister and me. We pray this will happen.
This is not a movie, it is a real-life situation, this happened to real people. An untruth has taken away our lives. A life that included our parents and children (now grandchildren). Unless someone decides to take a stand against the county, it’s officials and not allow intimidation and fear to discourage them from helping us with our fight for freedom; our children will be adults before we are free citizens.
The injustices that have occurred are pattern within this county and their police departments. This type of injustice and exploitation has been done to many African-Americans who have lived in this county for many years. They have been very successful in destroying many lives. This should not be happening in America today. This is a time we show Americans what really occurs in most small towns in the state of Mississippi. We are convinced that once this chain of events is exposed and unraveled, the events that occurred, the lives that have been destroyed, the pain and suffering the citizens of Scott County have endured; everyone will be utterly amazed, astonished and compelled to assist us in our plight for freedom. We pray, the people would insist upon an investigation into their misconduct and miscarriage of justice.
The officials in this community should be exposed and reprimanded for all they have done and continue to do to others and us. Once this has occurred, and revealed; perhaps, it will bring an end to this horrific story we have endured and experienced for the past fourteen years.
We need someone willing to take a stand for our families, to be our voice and us. Also, to assist, guide and lead our mother, because she is fearful. Our mother and children need us. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
May God Bless You,
Jamie Scott
(Willie Scott Jr., the oldest brother of Jamie and Gladys Scott, is risking his life in Iraq, for a country that took the lives of his sisters by locking them in prison for a crime they did not commit).
NOTE:
I was introduced to this case while a Master of Jurisprudence student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. I supported myself as a community services consultant for RainbowPUSH Coalition and received a letter from Mrs. Rasco seeking help for her daughters. Mrs. Rasco stated that she had been writing for 11 years, I was compelled to respond.
The months after would yield in depth research, as I needed to ensure the validity of this case. After completing the M.J. I left Chicago with a commitment to continue the quest of seeking justice for The Scott Sisters. It is still hard to believe that this is a crime in which transcripts state that 9,10 or 11 dollars was stolen. No one was murdered or taken to the hospital
-- Nancy Lockhart M.J.
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Quote:
Originally posted by satellites™
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The government should pay them back for this...it's crazy 
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Member Since: 2/18/2010
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Member Since: 10/21/2005
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Racists. It's only because they are black.
If a white man did this, they would get 30 days in prison.
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Member Since: 6/4/2010
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Death at them only getting away with $11. I am screaming. 
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Member Since: 8/14/2007
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