Friday, January 7, 2011
I'll trade ya... a kidney for some freedom
After spending a total of 16 years behind bars, both Gladys and Jamie Scott were released from prison, on the condition that Gladys donate a kidney to her gravely-ill sister. Each cried tears of joy as they were released earlier today at 9 A.M., and are eager to return to their lives. However, for Jamie, life may not be so sweet. In the fifth stage of renal falure, Jamie Scott needs a kidney transplant as soon as possible, or else she may have nothing else to celebrate about. The scariest part is that Gladys doesn't know whether or not her kidney is compatible with her sister's. And if she's not a match, she may still potentially go back to jail.
The African American sisters were sentenced to life in prison for robbing a house. However, after Gladys volunteered to donate her kidney to her sister, Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Epps suspended their sentences. On the downside, the treatment will cost $190,000 dollars a year for the state.
Many civil rights advocates were extremely happy upon hearing about the sisters' release. These advocates are working on pardoning and trying to prove that the sisters were not part of the crimes had supposedly committed. Records show that three black teenagers with shotguns, and the Scott sisters, robbed two men for a profit in between $11 and $200. The strangest part is that the three teens received smaller punishments than the sisters. But no matter what, the sisters are grateful for being let out of prison, and hope that they can put this ordeal behind themselves.
Do you guys believe race may have played a role in such a court ruling? What's in store for these two sisters' futures? Why do you think such a heavy punishment was bestowed upon these robbers even though they profited so little?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I don't think the punishment the sisters got was deserved at all. Yes, they committed a crime and, yes, that's against the law, but I think that's a little overblown. But I can't really figure out why their sentence was so severe. I haven't read any material on how the trial was conducted, and I don't want to assume that race was a factor in their sentences, although it very well might have been. I also think that it's very possible that the original sentence was based either on some sort of bias or the circumstances of that period of time were very different. Honestly, I don't know why their times in jail were so long for a relatively small crime.
*I just looked this up* According to Mississippi law, the 16 year sentence is well within the rights of the state. However, I think the release of these sisters is a good thing and hopefully the sisters are a match. If not, I hope they don't go back to jail because the death of a sister would be horrible enough without having to go back to jail.
Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_maximum_and_minimum_sentencing_for_petty_larceny_and_breaking_and_entering_in_Mississippi
(I KNOW it's from wikiAnswers, but since the person who answered the question referenced the law of Mississippi, I have a little more confidence in his/her reponse.)
Post a Comment