President Joe Biden has granted a full pardon to Kemba Smith Pradia, a criminal justice advocate whose remarkable journey from incarceration to activism has inspired countless others.
The pardon, announced on Jan.19, comes 24 years after her release from prison and erases the criminal record tied to her controversial conviction.
Smith Pradia’s story began as a college student when she became entangled in an abusive relationship with Peter Hall, a drug dealer.
Although she never sold or used drugs, Smith Pradia was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 1994 after witnessing Hall’s illegal activities. Following Hall’s murder, federal sentencing laws at the time held her accountable for his crimes.
Despite being a first-time, non-violent offender and seven months pregnant, Smith Pradia received a 24 ½-year sentence without the possibility of parole. Her case highlighted the harsh realities of mandatory minimum sentencing laws and drew national attention. Advocacy groups, including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, rallied behind her cause, arguing that her punishment was both unjust and excessive.
In 2000, after Smith Pradia had served nearly seven years in federal prison, President Bill Clinton granted her executive clemency, leading to her release.
Since then, she has dedicated her life to criminal justice reform, public speaking, and mentoring at-risk youth. Her advocacy has been chronicled in the BET+ film KEMBA, which explores her life and the systemic injustices she faced.
President Biden’s pardon represents the final step in clearing Smith Pradia’s name.
“Today, I am exercising my clemency power to pardon five individuals and commute the sentences of two individuals who have demonstrated remorse, rehabilitation, and redemption,” Biden said in a statement. “These clemency recipients have each made significant contributions to improving their communities.”
For Smith Pradia, this pardon is a personal victory and a symbol of redemption and resilience.
