Stories

The story of Kasaundra Lomax

Mon, 21 Mar 2005 02:32:18 -0500

Click to see picture of Kasaundra Lomax (left top) with mother Hamedah Hasan (right top) and two sisters, Ayesha and Kamyra. Kasaundra Lomax, 24, is the oldest daughter of Hamedah Hasan, who is currently serving a 26-year mandatory minimum sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Kasaundra's mother was six months pregnant when she began serving her sentence, and had to leave Kasaundra, 12 years old at the time, and her younger sister with relatives when she was sentenced under mandatory minimums sentences and under the federal sentencing guidelines in 1993.

The story of Kemba Smith

Mon, 21 Feb 2005 15:53:06 -0500

In 1999, Kemba Smith found herself sitting in a cell in the Danbury Correctional Facility for women, spending yet another year away from her family and five year old son, born in prison during her first year of incarceration.

The story of Dorothy Gaines

Sun, 20 Feb 2005 15:51:59 -0500

Click to view a larger version

Letters from Philip Gaines at age 9 and 11

Dorothy Gaines, a 42-year old widow with three children, came into the national spotlight in 2000 when President Clinton granted her clemency from a 19 1/2 year prison sentence imposed upon her conviction for conspiracy to deliver crack cocaine.

The story of "Antonio"

Sat, 19 Feb 2005 15:53:48 -0500

ANTONIO, 23:
"When I was four years old, my mother started doing drugs. She started going to prison when I was seven years old. That's when we first got taken from her. Her friends took me to Social Services, dropped me off, and left me there.
I have been in about 18 different group homes since then, and three or four foster homes. I don't care how bad whatever we were going through, I still wanted to be with my mom.

One foster home I was in, I called the lady there my grandmother, cause she always took care of me by making sure I got in touch with my mom. Even if she was calling collect, she could call there. My grandmother knew that mattered in my life.

The other places, they just didn't care"

Excerpt from: San Francisco Partnership for Incarcerated Parents "Children of Incarcerated Parents: A Bill of Rights"

The story of Chrissy Taylor

Fri, 18 Feb 2005 15:55:01 -0500

Chrissy Taylor was incarcerated at the age of 19 based on her marginal involvement in her boyfriend's scheme to manufacture methamphetamine. Her boyfriend asked her to go to a store in Mobile, Alabama to pick up a shipment of chemicals. Based on his assurance that the mere purchase and possession of the chemicals was legal, she went to the store and bought them. As it happened, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were working with the chemical store in a reverse-sting operation. The agents sold Chrissy the chemicals and then arrested both her and her boyfriend, not for possession or purchase of the chemicals - neither of which is in and of itself illegal - but instead for possession with intent to manufacture methamphetamines.

The story of Elaine Bartlett

Fri, 18 Feb 2005 15:54:28 -0500

Elaine Bartlett was sentenced to years for carrying one four ounce package, equivalent to the weight of a bottle of nail polish, of cocaine from New York City to Albany, New York. She spent sixteen years in prison before she was granted clemency by New York Governor George Pataki.

The story of "Malcom"

Thu, 17 Feb 2005 15:55:45 -0500

MALCOM, 17:
We made the most out of every visit we had. My mom was very special about our time, she tried to make those three-hour visits enriching. Just being relaxed and having fun with my mother is what I remember the most. And me really realizing how much I missed her.

"I know the pain they're feeling..."

Wed, 16 Feb 2005 15:56:41 -0500

I want to tell other mothers that I know the pain they're feeling; the awfulness that comes because we don't know where our children are, the anxiety that comes around certain dates like birthdays knowing we can't call to say "I love you". I know the loss of joy in those days, because they're not things to celebrate without our children. I know, because we're all facing the same problem of not being able to see our children due to the fact that we're convicted and it is more painful to not see our children, or have the chance to talk to them then the sentence we have to serve".

An excerpt from: Locked Up-Locked Down: A Mother's Love for Her Child
California Coalation for Women Prisoners.

The story of Dawn Beverlin

Tue, 15 Feb 2005 15:57:40 -0500

Dawn Beverlin is currently serving a 5-year mandatory minimum sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. She began using drugs when she was 16 and was smoking or snorting methamphetamine on a daily basis by the age of 20, and began selling drugs to support her habit. She would purchase methamphetamine from her boyfriend to use herself or sell it, her primary purpose at all times being to ensure that she had a sufficient supply for her own use. She used all of her earnings from drug sales to support her own habit.

The story of Sally Smith

Mon, 14 Feb 2005 15:58:14 -0500

In 1993 Sally Smith was sentenced to life without parole in Michigan after being convicted of "conspiracy with intent to deliver over 650 grams of cocaine." Her conviction was based on two phone calls she made to collect money for her boyfriend, and two receipts she signed for a cash exchange. There was considerable evidence that Sally was brutally beaten and verbally abused by her boyfriend during their 17-year relationship, and that he had threatened to kill her and one of her family members if she left him. At trial the judge refused to admit evidence of any abuse prior to the period of the conspiracy, deeming it too remote in time to impact her behavior. He also disallowed the testimony of an expert witness who would have testified that Sally's long history of abuse made her incapable of exercising free will.