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Advocate Kemba Smith meets with Florida A&M women student leaders to discuss issues related to the criminal justice system and drug abuse.

 

Kemba Smith grew up as the sheltered, only child of professional parents in Virginia. After graduating from high school in 1989, she attended Hampton University, where in an attempt to fit in, she became involved with a drug dealer who was a major figure in a $4 million dollar crack cocaine ring.

 

After an abusive four-year relationship with him, in 1994, under mandatory sentencing, even though the prosecutor said she never handled, used nor sold the drugs that were involved, she was sentenced to 24.5 years and served 6.5 years in federal prison.

 

She also gave birth to her first and only son while incarcerated. She regained her freedom after President Clinton granted her clemency in 2000. Her case drew support from across the nation and the world in crusade to reverse a disturbing trend in the rise of lengthy sentences for first time non-violent drug offenders.

 

In May 2002, she graduated from Virginia Union University with a bachelor's degree in social work and has attended Howard Law School. She also had a two-year Soros Justice Postgraduate Fellowship for advocates. That enabled her to inspire youth to become educated about certain injustices within the criminal justice system. She now heads the Kemba Smith Foundation, which among other things, educates the public about the criminal justice system and drug policies. www.kembasmithfoundation.org/foundation.html/about.html

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