Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Guest article by Christopher Smitherman.
The African American community continues to identify two different justice systems in Hamilton County: one African -American and one White. County Commissioners David Pepper and Todd Portune communicated that they would release 300 inmates in jail to free up jail space. As the President of the Cincinnati Branch of the NAACP I would like to recommend their first release. Her name is Levonn Smith.
Ms. Smith was not extended a bail. Is she a flight risk? No. This is why our jails are overcrowded. If the commissioners are serious about comprehensive public policy they will address a broken criminal justice system in Hamilton County.
Ms. Smith should be released immediately!
Here are some news excerpts where you can learn more about Levonn Smith’s case.
From ”Family Says Woman’s Animal Cruelty Conviction A Mistake”:
The family of a Lincoln Heights woman found guilty this week on one count of animal cruelty claims the wrong person has been convicted.
A family member of the woman tells 9 News he’s the one responsible for the death of a pit bull outside their home earlier this summer.
It’s a story you saw first on 9 News.
The woman is now a convicted felon, and remains locked up this weekend at the Hamilton County Justice Center, all because she was denied bond prior to her sentencing next month.
It’s something her family is outraged about.
But they also say she shouldn’t still be here for another reason--because she didn’t do it.
(...)
More distressing than her conviction to those who love her is the fact that she was surprisingly not granted bond by Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Heather Russell.
“This is not a bad woman, she does not need a break, she just deserved to get out of jail, she deserves a bond,” said Mabel Redmon, a family friend.
I spoke to Ms. Levonn Smith’s employer and I would like to pass on some details regarding our conversation.
Ms. Smith works full time for Kentucky Fried Chicken as a manager. She has worked for the company for 11 consecutive years. Her employer indicated that Ms. Smith was an exemplary employee. He stated that Ms. Smith works 50-60 hours per week. Part of her job responsibilities are closing one or two stores regularly. He defined her as a very pleasant person, easy to work with, and a valued employee.
Ms. Smith is locked up in jail tonight taking up needed jail space. Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Heather Russell, in my opinion, could have easily extended a bail to Ms. Smith. The NAACP membership voted to not support a jail and one of our major concerns is the disparity on how African Americans are treated within the Criminal Justice System in Hamilton County.
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