In a significant final act, President Joe Biden issued a full pardon to Kemba Smith Pradia, a criminal justice reform advocate, acknowledging her past as a victim of the War on Drugs. Smith Pradia served six years for drug-related charges linked to her abusive relationship and has since founded the Kemba Smith Foundation to focus on criminal justice reform. Her experiences highlight the issues faced by domestic abuse survivors within the legal system. Biden's pardoning of nearly 2,500 individuals marks a historic shift from the tough-on-crime policies of previous administrations, particularly in contrast to President Trump’s stance.
I know, categorically, I was considered a drug dealer because the federal government held me accountable for 255 kilos of crack cocaine even though the prosecutor said I never handled, used, or sold any of.
As a survivor of domestic violence, Smith Pradia also believes that all stakeholders in the criminal justice system need to educate themselves on how victims of domestic abuse face an increased risk of incarceration.
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