Jackson Free Press

Also see: Let My Daughters Go
Barbour Suspends Scott Sisters' Sentence
Editorial: Free the Scott Sisters
Scott Sisters Story Goes Viral

The Mississippi Department of Corrections will release sisters Jamie and Gladys Scott this morning. MDOC spokeswoman Suzanne Singletary told the Jackson Free Press that corrections officials are planning to release the sisters--whose life sentences Gov. Haley Barbour suspended on Dec. 29--to their attorneys around 8 a.m. Friday.

Attorney and Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba, who has represented the sisters in their post-conviction proceedings, will pick up the Scott sisters after their discharge from the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl. Lumumba said that plans to transport them to Pensacola, Fla., where their mother lives and the sisters plan to reside, are not final yet.

Lumumba said that he visited the sisters in prison Tuesday.

"They're anxious to get on out of there," Lumumba said. "I guess it won't totally set in that they're free until they get out of there, but they're in good spirits."

The Florida Department of Corrections notified MDOC on Wednesday that it had approved the sisters' living situation in Florida.

The process for transferring supervision of parolees between states can take up to 45 days, but Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps told the Jackson Free Press on Dec. 30 that he would try to expedite the sisters' case.

"I'm using my influence as best as I can to get them as quickly as possible to Florida," Epps said.

The sisters must report to a Pensacola intake office on Monday, Jan. 10. While fees are typically associated with an interstate transfer, Florida DOC spokeswoman Jo Ellyn Rackleff said that she expected Florida to waive those fees for the Scott sisters.

"There are many waivers," Rackleff said. "Given their situation, they will probably be eligible for some. We will work with them. It's not going to be an issue. They're in the hospital--obviously they can't pay them."

Jamie and Gladys will be required to meet regularly with a parole officer, but Rackleff said that the exact conditions of their release will depend on terms from Mississippi that the Florida DOC has not yet reviewed.

Currently, both sisters will have to pay a $52 monthly administrative fee, along with charges for a one-time drug test, Rackleff said.

In his executive order suspending Gladys Scott's sentence, Barbour stipulated that a condition of her release was the donation of one of her kidneys to Jamie, who suffers from kidney failure.

"(B)y accepting this suspension of sentence, Gladys Scott agrees to be bound by all of its provision and conditions, including that she shall donate one of her kidneys to her sister within one year of her release," Barbour stated in the order.

Gladys Scott volunteered to donate one of her kidneys in the pardon Lumumba filed on the sisters' behalf in September. Blood tests indicate that she may be a suitable match for her sister, but further tissue testing is necessary to ensure that she can be a kidney donor.

Barbour's release order for Jamie acknowledges the significant cost posed to the state by providing Jamie with on-going dialysis and medical care. Barbour spokesman Dan Turner told the JFP Dec. 30 that the state would not pay for further medical care upon Jamie's release but that he expected Medicare to cover most expenses associated with her kidney condition.

Read "Scott Sisters Story Goes Viral" in this week's JFP issue.

Previous Commentsshow

I just don't think that the donation of one's organ should be stipulated in the relese of the Scott sisters. Again I say that it is good news for Jamie that Gladys is willing to do this. Still another condition of their release is that they can never return to Mississippi. It seems that Lamumba brokered a bad deal and that they should have told Barbour to take that release and sholve it. How can the pardon of five murderers by this governor be seen as anything other than racist when compared to the Scott sister's case wherein nobody was physically harmed. Just asking.

justjess

Jan 7 2011

It's all about control in this state. Governor Barbour has done a lot of strange things that have raised eyebrows. He has to live by his actions, not us. The golden rule applies to everyone, even him. Do unto others, as you would have others do unto you. That's one rule he does not live by.

DeGuyz

Jan 9 2011

Good point DeGuyz. Can anyone talk to me like a second grader to assist with an understanding of how a governor could give these sisters a suspension of sentence; not a pardon, 24hrs. to leave MS, a mandate to never again put their feet on MS soil, a mandate for one sister to give the other a major organ (kidney) within a year, and to be obligated to a parole officer in Florida for the rest of their lives? All of these things mandates are to take part in Florida. Isn't this a definite dichotomy? How can this governor desire to be president of the United States of America, yet, Mississippi, the State of Family of Orgin for Gladys, Jamie, their children, their parent and a host of relatives, is off limis. If MS can pardon and allow spousal murderers to live as first class citizens in this state; why can't two women, who didn't kill anyone, who didn't have a previous hx of violence or drug abuse and the net of the alledged robbery was $11.00, live here also?

justjess

Jan 10 2011

Bad deal or not I'm sure these young ladies were happy to get out of prison under any circumstances. Not being able to return to the land of your birth however is no different than our former days in slavery. During that time of course if a "master" wanted to free his enslaved chattel, that person was required to leave the state so as not to become a financial burden upon the state. Sounds as if the someone learned his lessons well at the feet of his mentors.

BuyJxn

Jan 10 2011

BuyJxn- Since 61% of felons are repeat offenders I think making not being able to live in Mississippi ever again would be a good idea to add as a stipulation to the release of any felon. Would cut down on crime in Mississippi, don't you think?

BubbaT

Jan 10 2011

I'm so sure *that's* constitutional, Bubba. We could also get a posse together, jump on our horses with our six-shooters, and drive 'em all out of the state.

DonnaLadd

Jan 10 2011

I can't think of anything in the Constitution that would prohibit it. Wouldn't fall under cruel and unusual punishment. I'll have to pass your posse idea, ain't got a horse or a six shooter. ;)

BubbaT

Jan 10 2011

Have you consulted case law, Bubba?

DonnaLadd

Jan 11 2011

No I haven't,Donna.

BubbaT

Jan 11 2011

....so, BubbaT, acording to your MS statistical prison release information, 61% of MS's convicted felons "are repeat offenders". Does this mean that out of the five murderers that Barbour pardoned, we can expect 3.5 of them to repeat their crimes? I know that I mention ideas that are racist in my opinion quite frequently in some of my post; however, I just can't put my mind around the idea that these two women, Jamie and Gladys, who were said to have been model prisoners, would be run out of town on a rail and are told to never put their feet back on MS soil. This same Governor has pardoned five male White murderers to live here in this state with no strings attached. My question is still on the table. If it isn't about race, what is it about?

justjess

Jan 12 2011

Jess- that 61% was felons in the U.S. are repeat offenders, don't know what it is in Mississippi. Have no idea about the people Barbour pardoned, they might.Should have sent the outta state for good too. No really should have sent them to the gas chamber, but that's the courts fault. To answer you question was it about race, I don't think so. What was the motive for it? Don't know.

BubbaT

Jan 12 2011