After 17 Years, I'm Bringing My Little Sister Home from Prison | American Civil Liberties Union

When we were little, we used to tell our mama she had good ears. My little sister and I would whisper under the covers in our bed after lights out, and somehow mom could always hear us. She'd tell us to quit talking and go to sleep.

Tomorrow I'm going to pick up my sister from prison. She's been away for 17 years, and until last December I thought she would never come home. I can't wait to drive back to my house, get in bed, and tell each other everything like we used to.

You'd think I had a twin. As kids, my sister and I looked a lot alike. Our mom used to dress us the same. Even as we got older, we wore the same kinds of clothes. We raised our small kids together. We both wanted to style hair for a living. Since she's been gone, a part of me has been missing. A part of me has been locked up for years.

Stephanie was 26 with four small kids when she was sentenced. Even though the judge objected, a mandatory minimum law meant that she got life without the possibility of parole for being "a girlfriend and bag holder and money holder" in a drug conspiracy.

It's a nice story but,,,

What the sister does not tell in her narrative is that Stephanie had prior drug arrests all in 1993 and within 90 days of each other as well as the 1996 arrest which put her away for life. In her home, 500 grams of powder cocaine, $13,710 in an attic safe (belonging to Stephanie’s former boyfriend), were found among other drug sundry. An innocent bystander, I think not.

BUT,,,life in prison, a tough call and one that he judge was reluctant to make:

There’s no question that Ms. George deserved to be punished. The only question is whether it should be a mandatory life sentence … I wish I had another alternative.” He told Stephanie, “Even though you have been involved in drugs and drug dealing for a number of years … your role has basically been as a girlfriend and bag holder and money holder. So certainly, in my judgment, it doesn’t warrant a life sentence.

Although I do not completely agree with the judge's assessment of her role (I may be jaded as I'm still dealing with the aftermath of my nephews murder because of drugs) or the fact that Stephanie received the longest sentence of any of her five co-defendants, the clemency granted by President Obama was the proper thing to do; I know of murderers and other despicable people who were sentenced and served less time than her. The fact that we will be seeing more of these pardons should send a sure fire signal to lawmakers that something needs to be done.

I hope that Ms. George takes advantage of her sobriety and educational/job skills. Most people do not get that chance, my nephew didn't!

I wish her well!!

After 17 Years, I'm Bringing My Little Sister Home from Prison | American Civil Liberties Union