Time Served 
“An Innocent Woman in Prison”

A large number of women across the United States are in prison for being in love with the wrong man. First-time, low-level, non-violent offenders are carrying the weight of their drug dealer boyfriends, and are offenders of a mandatory minimum sentence under the criminal justice system guidelines. Over a ten year period the new faces of American prison population are Black, female and young. The criminal system has ignored facts and evidence in many cases in order to give a lesser sentence to the victims/offenders but instead they were given harsher sentencing. Kemba Smith’s story is a prime example of how a sheltered middle class college student can fall prey to the injustice and racial bias punishment of the court system

A lot of stories have surfaced about our young women serving time in prison for crimes they never committed. I never heard of Kemba Smith or her boyfriend Peter Hall, until a friend gave me the article in 1999. After reading what was such a heart-felt story, I found myself becoming afraid, afraid to get involved with anyone, afraid for my children, afraid for my friends and love ones. I could not believe that ‘the’ system would allow a young lady of her caliber to go to prison for 24.5 years and she could not believe it either. Here is her story. In 1994, Kemba was attending Hampton University. She comes from a middle-class family that resides in Richmond, Virginia. Her father an accountant, her mother a teacher - they had high hopes for their only child. Her background reflects a happy but strict upbringing. She was the girl next door, the good girl, the girl every mother would love to have as a daughter or daughter-in-law with low self-esteem.

Life took a turn for the worse during her first year in college, she was running with the ‘in’ crowd. With help from her circle of girlfriends, she was forced to upgrade from her basketball boyfriend, with no car, no stylish clothes or money.  She then introduced to Peter Hall, known on campus as ‘Khalil’, Kemba had no idea that her suave boyfriend was the mastermind behind a 4 million dollar crack cocaine operation, until it was too late. She was caught in the middle, torn between her parents do-the-right-thing tactics and Peter’s physical and mental abusiveness. Peter had total control over the way she dressed, who she saw and where she went. Kemba knew she should leave but she felt she had to protect him and herself. Kemba’s parents were unaware of their daughter’s abusive relationship.

Until her parents were contacted by the Feds questioning Kemba’s whereabouts and her relationship with Peter, and how they are connected. Her parents feared the worse.

Constantly being watched by the Feds, Kemba and Peter were on the run. During the time they were hiding out from the police, Kemba suffered a miscarriage. Peter became in raged when he suspected Kemba of trying to leave him that he beat her so bad – her legs had swollen and was disfigured. She didn’t leave the apartment for three days, nor did she contact her parents. But after becoming pregnant for the second time she ran to where she felt safe – home. Her parents didn’t care that she was pregnant, all they wanted was their baby girl. A couple of days went by and Kemba was getting use to the normal life without Peter, when the Feds charged into her home in the middle of the night and apprehended Kemba. Her parents were shocked.

Kemba was held until she gave up the whereabouts of Peter, but by the time she was ready to confess, the police received a report that he had been murdered. He was shot in the head in an apartment they were sharing in Seattle, Washington.

The judge gave Kemba 24.5 years, 394 months on conspiracy, 60 months on money laudering, 60 months for lying to authorities (she lied to the Feds about Peter’s whereabouts and protect herself from Peter), and two sentences running consecutively with the first sentence to the Correctional Institute in Danbury, Connecticut, with eligibility for parole in 2016.

Kemba’s Smith’s story became a media sensation. Her story was heard and felt after the verdict was read. The supports and her family members were floored.

The other crack distributors (Peter’s crew) were sentenced to 324 months or less. Kemba never distributed or sold crack cocaine, but due to the mid-1980’s Reagan Administration’s war on drugs – Congress enacted the “mandatory sentencing laws” which based punishment on the amount of drugs involved or the alleged amount. Her case was criticized by the NAACP Legal Defense and the FAMM –

Peter Hall began distributing crack cocaine in 1989-1994, he was known for using or preying on college campuses for scapegoats wanting to make a little extra cash.

Kemba was pregnant at the time of the sentencing, she gave birth to her son while in prison. She was allowed to breast feed him once, hold him and then give him to her parents to raise until she returned home.

Her story was featured on Couirt –TV, Nightline, Washington Post, New York Times, People and Essence magazine. Many people wrote letters to the court house and to President Clinton to reverse Kemba’s sentence.
6 ½ years after her sentencing, Kemba Smith was pardoned by President Clinton on Friday December 22 , 2000, 3 days before Christmas. She was granted Presidential clemency.

After a numerous calls to her home, Kemba could not be reached for commit. Her parents are very protective of their only child, but can you blame them.

Kemba is currently working and has obtained a degree in Social Work from Hampton University. She is showing interest in Criminal Law, she tours the country to speak at different High Schools and Colleges to lecture on her experiences. Her parents and Kemba started the Kemba Smith Foundation. She is currently residing in Richmond, VA.