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The case of two sisters sentenced to life in prison for a robbery that netted $11 is the reason this country has more prisoners than any other in the world.
Jamie and Gladys Scott were 20 and 19 years old, respectively, when they lured two men down a road in central Mississippi in 1993. Three teenagers then struck the men in the head with a shotgun and stole their wallets. The three teens made plea deals and only served several months in prison.
The Scotts, though, were convicted of robbery with a deadly weapon and have been in prison ever since.
The NAACP is calling for Gov. Haley Barbour to issue a pardon, especially since Jamie Scott may be gravely ill because of kidney problems.
"We're looking for the governor to be a humane person in the situation. It is a hideous event in the history of Mississippi," Ben Jealous, president of the NAACP, told the AP.
Barbour's office is meeting with Scotts' lawyers; however, no decision will be made until the parole board issues a recommendation.
On Wednesday, hundreds marched to demand the release of the sisters.
Barbour should be running as fast as his legs will carry him to sign a pardon for these women. The fact that they are still in prison almost 20 years later makes Mississippi look like the most backward state in the union and only makes this country look cruel and inhumane.
Former Assistant District Attorney Mark Duncan has this to say about the Scotts' case:
"My position on this is they were tried and found guilty and sentenced by a jury. I don't know what else there is to say about it."
I say that Duncan needs to learn compassion. In this case, the penalty simply does not fit the crime. The people who wielded the deadly weapon only served a few months. In some places, the Scotts might have been sent to a facility for juvenile or youthful offenders.
"Regardless of what happens, there's no way that the crime fits the time. Nobody was hurt and only a meager amount of money was taken," said Choke Lumumba, an attorney for the Scotts.
In 2008, more than 2.3 million people were imprisoned. A total of 7.3 million people were in prison or jail on probation or parole, which is more than 3 percent of the U.S. population. The United States also has the highest juvenile incarceration rate in the world.
How can we lecture other countries about human rights and women's rights, when we are locking away millions of Americans, with more than 70 percent of them minorities, for unjust stretches of time?
Prison populations are starting to decline now, but that's partially because states and the federal government are trying to save money.
The goal with the Scotts should have been to show them how serious their crime was and then provide the tools to help the young women recover from their poor decision to be involved in a robbery.
Instead, we threw the book at them without a second thought. Both women had children who were forced to grow up without their mothers. That's not justice. That's cruelty.
"It won't make sense if he doesn't pardon Jamie and Gladys," Lumumba said.
Comments: (60)
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By: poetrysez on 9/15/2010 4:38PM
The 3 teens struck the two men in the head with a shotgun. To have a gun put to your head and then be hit with that gun, that is considered assualt with a deadly weapon. Then they were robbed. Was the gun loaded?
These sisters lured these two men into this ambush. What was said to the men in order for them to follow these two ladies? Did they know the men or were the men some random victims? Was this behavior not unusual for these sisters?
After airing out those thoughts-I still believe a life sentence is way too long for robbery and assualt with a deadly weapon. Although, the people who had the gun put to their head may not agree. Because they were most likely scared for their life. The amount of money netted isn't the issue...it's the crime itself.
In the video clip mom and other family members are saying that the sisters didn't do anything wrong. That it chanted several times. However, if it weren't for the sisters, the two men wouldn't have been assulted and robbed. Still, life is way too long a sentence.
People need to know-especially those who blindly follow foolishness, that no matter if you were just the lookout...you're still involved with the crime.
Mississippi laws are harsh. Jimcrow laws put on the books to lessen the population of the impovished...which are mostly black.
GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR LET THESE LADIES GO. BECAUSE MISSISSIPPI HAS MADE ITS POINT!
Maybe I should ask a little nicer-PlEASE with sugar on top-let these ladies go because they learned their lesson. Especially since one of the sisters are in dire need of real medical attention.
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By: jeromequigley on 9/15/2010 6:10PM
I am not sure about this just yet Poetrysez, I agree with a good deal of what you said. But after doing a short research on the case I have more questions than answers now. Will have to dig more. Jeff (who i am not putting on blast, he is a good writer, just don't agree w/some things) mentions no one got hurt, well I am sure who ever got hit in the head with the shot gun will say different. Jeff mentions their age 21 and 19, and them being charged as juvy's or youthfull offenders. One, over 18, welcome to adulthood. and Two: the 19 y/o had a 7y/o(yes it would of happened at 12)and pregnant at the time, the 21 y/o had 3 kids, her oldest 7 y/o(so about 14)! Now does this mean they do not deserve just "heck no"! Am I judging them as "bad" because of it, HECK NO! My mom was 18 when she had my oldest sister (she just graduated from catholic school, hmmmm)! that was early 60's, divorced my sister dad, married my brother and my dad, divorced him when I was 2. so in 1972 was raising 3 kids after 2 failed marriages! So before some one talks smack, YES MF'ER I DO KNOW!!. But the point is, (as was it was for my mother) the sisters were no angels or helpless little girls! Again, does not mean they are bad, but still don't like when people paint situations like this as "they were so sweet and pure". But again I will digg further into facts cause some thing stinks here! I heard the parents Blame the DA, the Judge and Police, yet no one seems upset w/the 3 guys the girls were with who supposedly were forced by police to say the girls did it?(instead of having the girls turn on the guys, seem don't seem right)Ah, then there are the 2 men that were attacked and robbed(both black, so there is no racial theory stories coming back)who, as told by the sisters family, came to their family and tried to get bribe money not to testify against the girls?? But the girls attorney told them to stop talking to them 2 men(not the best advise it seems now). And again, the 2 men may have tried that, but what benefit would they get by going through a false testimony and trial when they already knew the girls family's were not going to pay them?? Sorry way too many holes to fill in for final verdict. But even with a assault and robbery charge, life does seem very harsh, but again just sounds like so many wrong things to buy the we were railroaded line!
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By: ARNEADER on 9/15/2010 7:06PM
@poetrysez I agree with you 100%.
I live in MS and I just heard about these two sisters a few months ago. I did not attend the rally today but knowing MS as I do, if those girls were tried in their hometown which is Rural MS, you can forget it unless you are related to everyone in that town. If the guys got ten months for the crime than the girls should have gotten ten months. Life or Double Life sentences is way too harsh. Those girls were young and stupid and I'm sure they have learned their lessons by now. Let the Scott sisters go!
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By: MigThor on 9/16/2010 10:04AM
@Jeromequigley. You say you did some "short research" on this subject. My question to you is about the "luring" part. If this implies prostitution, then I must say that even I know that when you are tempted by or approach one who seems to be a prostitute, that there is always the possiblity of being "rolled." Yes, I agree the women should have been punished. But, unless I'm wrong, these men weren't deacons offering to help two young homeless women who needed some money for their starving children. Prostitution is still illegal for the seller and buyer. If this is the case, then the seventeen years is indeed too long.
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By: jeromequigley on 9/16/2010 2:03PM
@MigThor, You are very right!! I did not address that in my post, but like you said the 2 guys were up to no good also "if" that is what went down! I am still researching the court records and will let you know what I come up with. It is kind of hard because most of what I found was mainly sites who are "for" the sisters, which is great! But I find that some times the facts can get a little twisted in those sites. So wanted to get the facts as they were recorded. But still looking at the supportive sites too because they do have info that might be missed! One of the biggest questions that keeps popping in my head is "now why would a 19 y/o mother of 1, and one in the oven be out running the streets anyway??". Not that it has anything to do with Jack, but it keeps naggin me, you know?? Peace!!
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By: rh on 9/17/2010 2:54PM
Besides these sisters doing the crime, what really caught my attention, they have children who grew up without them. This self inflicted prison was unjust, compare to others who do crimes of this nature get a slap on the wrist. Back to the children who proabably grew up with a better chance to be upstanding citizens without their mother's, influence of criminal behavior. It's the "hand that rocks the cradle that rules the world".
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By: poetrysez on 9/16/2010 5:36AM
The teens were minors who weren't going to be sentenced as adults-so they weren't going to get much more than juvi hall anyways. Even though in some other states-those teenagers could’ve been tried as adults. Especially since a firearm (shotgun) and assault took place. Like you, I’m not certain of all the facts and the family’s desire to picture these sisters as innocents caught up in a corrupt system-makes finding out the truth harder.
Although, I understand the family’s main focus is getting their love ones released and mentioning details that doesn’t show the ladies in a favorable light-isn’t wise.
However, Mississippi does have some tough sentencing laws. I also will be looking into this further. But like we, and most of society believe, a life sentence is way too much.
I believe that if the family would’ve been saying “yes, they were wrong, but the sisters continued their education while in jail. Yes they were wrong but they’re talking to other younger inmates about how not to return back to jail. Yes they were wrong but they’ve changed( for the better)".
I don’t know because I would’ve told my family to say whatever needs to be said and sign whatever needs to be signed in order to come home to their children.
Perhaps saying those things is admitting to the crime in which they are adamant that they’re innocent of. I believe the governor is going to pardon them but these ladies won’t be able to get money for wrongful incarceration.
Although, Jamie Scott may’ve a legitimate lawsuit because Jamie was denied proper medical attention-which may’ve cost years to be taken off of her life.
GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE IT’S TIME…PLEASE!
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By: whitey on 9/15/2010 9:25PM
One word---black
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By: Greg on 9/16/2010 7:37AM
I totally agree!
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By: mswll4 on 9/16/2010 4:18AM
@PEABODY, Angery COLORED PERSON, Another one.
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