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About time, Although I know that she was selling pot out of her home and that is breaking the law, it was a bit over the top to send her to prison for 12 years as a first time offender!!
BTW Her mother, Delita Starr, was also charged with a drug crime, but she was given a 30-year suspended sentence so she could care for Spottedcrow's four children while their mother was incarcerated
Gov. Mary Fallin has agreed to early release for inmate Patricia Spottedcrow, a young mother whose story of a lengthy sentence for a small marijuana deal was featured in a Tulsa World series on Women in Prison.
Under the governor's stipulations, Spottedcrow will be required to complete 120 days at a community-level Department of Corrections facility before she is released.
Spottedcrow, 27, was originally handed a 12-year sentence in a blind plea before a judge for selling $31 worth of marijuana to a police informant. It was a first-time offense, but because children were in Spottedcrow's home when she was arrested, a charge was added for possession of a dangerous substance in the presence of a minor.
Last year, a Kingfisher County judge reduced Spottedcrow's sentence by four years. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board agreed to review Spottedcrow's case in April and voted 5-0 to recommend early release.
Spottedcrow's attorney, Laura Deskin, had been waiting eagerly since then for the news she and her client had hoped for.
"They were making me nervous there for a while," Deskin said. "They really did give it very careful consideration."
Spottedcrow must wait until a bed is available at a community corrections center to serve her remaining 120 days.
"One hundred twenty days, at this point, is a gift," Deskin said. "And it will give her the opportunity to look for work. The governor believed it would help her more smoothly transition to life after prison."
The community corrections center stipulation also includes a requirement for a work-release program. Spottedcrow has four children whom her mother has been caring for on an $8 per hour salary.
Her mother, Delita Starr, was also charged with a drug crime, but she was given a 30-year suspended sentence so she could care for Spottedcrow's four children while their mother was incarcerated.
After Spottedcrow's story was published in the Tulsa World's 2011 series "Women in Prison," a groundswell of support emerged. Some cited it as an example of sentencing disparities in Oklahoma's judicial system, raised questions of racial bias and wondered about the long-term effects on her young children.
"It was such an excessive sentence for the crime that it was shocking," Deskin said. "It's good that the news media got a hold of it. But she's certainly not the only case of this in Oklahoma. There are other Patricia Spottedcrows."
Board member Marc Dreyer, senior pastor at Tulsa's Memorial Baptist Church, was instrumental in getting early consideration for Spottedcrow's case.
He met with Spottedcrow while visiting Eddie Warrior a few months ago, after reading about her case in the Tulsa World. He requested that her case be reviewed early at the board's April hearing.
"It's so rare to be granted early review, I'm so grateful to him," Deskin said.
She spoke to Spottedcrow's mother and case manager at Eddie Warrior Correctional Facility after learning of the governor's decision.
"They are very thrilled, and her kids cannot wait to see her," Deskin said.
Now she wants to focus on work and obtaining an education, Deskin said. Spottedcrow, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, has been encouraged to apply for tribal scholarship consideration.
Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/artic...1_ULNSar345814
BTW Her mother, Delita Starr, was also charged with a drug crime, but she was given a 30-year suspended sentence so she could care for Spottedcrow's four children while their mother was incarcerated
Gov. Mary Fallin has agreed to early release for inmate Patricia Spottedcrow, a young mother whose story of a lengthy sentence for a small marijuana deal was featured in a Tulsa World series on Women in Prison.
Under the governor's stipulations, Spottedcrow will be required to complete 120 days at a community-level Department of Corrections facility before she is released.
Spottedcrow, 27, was originally handed a 12-year sentence in a blind plea before a judge for selling $31 worth of marijuana to a police informant. It was a first-time offense, but because children were in Spottedcrow's home when she was arrested, a charge was added for possession of a dangerous substance in the presence of a minor.
Last year, a Kingfisher County judge reduced Spottedcrow's sentence by four years. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board agreed to review Spottedcrow's case in April and voted 5-0 to recommend early release.
Spottedcrow's attorney, Laura Deskin, had been waiting eagerly since then for the news she and her client had hoped for.
"They were making me nervous there for a while," Deskin said. "They really did give it very careful consideration."
Spottedcrow must wait until a bed is available at a community corrections center to serve her remaining 120 days.
"One hundred twenty days, at this point, is a gift," Deskin said. "And it will give her the opportunity to look for work. The governor believed it would help her more smoothly transition to life after prison."
The community corrections center stipulation also includes a requirement for a work-release program. Spottedcrow has four children whom her mother has been caring for on an $8 per hour salary.
Her mother, Delita Starr, was also charged with a drug crime, but she was given a 30-year suspended sentence so she could care for Spottedcrow's four children while their mother was incarcerated.
After Spottedcrow's story was published in the Tulsa World's 2011 series "Women in Prison," a groundswell of support emerged. Some cited it as an example of sentencing disparities in Oklahoma's judicial system, raised questions of racial bias and wondered about the long-term effects on her young children.
"It was such an excessive sentence for the crime that it was shocking," Deskin said. "It's good that the news media got a hold of it. But she's certainly not the only case of this in Oklahoma. There are other Patricia Spottedcrows."
Board member Marc Dreyer, senior pastor at Tulsa's Memorial Baptist Church, was instrumental in getting early consideration for Spottedcrow's case.
He met with Spottedcrow while visiting Eddie Warrior a few months ago, after reading about her case in the Tulsa World. He requested that her case be reviewed early at the board's April hearing.
"It's so rare to be granted early review, I'm so grateful to him," Deskin said.
She spoke to Spottedcrow's mother and case manager at Eddie Warrior Correctional Facility after learning of the governor's decision.
"They are very thrilled, and her kids cannot wait to see her," Deskin said.
Now she wants to focus on work and obtaining an education, Deskin said. Spottedcrow, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, has been encouraged to apply for tribal scholarship consideration.
Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/artic...1_ULNSar345814
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