88: Clemency

Last December 95 prisoners had their sentences shortened by President Obama. This was part of an ongoing effort to use clemency to free non-violent drug offenders who were given harsh sentences for their crimes. For 53 year old Ramona Brant this meant she would not spend the rest of her life in prison. Brant was a first time offender convicted in 1995 on charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine. This summer Life of the Law is presenting some of the best and the brightest new voices in investigative reporting and audio production. This week's episode is from Shandukani Mulaudzi of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Reporter Shandukani Mulaudzi met Brant on February 2, as she was released from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Mulaudzi later traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Brant -- as part of the clemency agreement -- is living in a halfway house until mid-April. PRODUCTION NOTES Clemency was reported by Shandukani Mulaudzi and edited by Ann Cooper with production support from Jonathan Hirsch, Nancy Mullane, and Kirsten Jusewicz-Haidle. Special thanks to Kerry Donahue, coordinator of the audio program at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Amy Povah of Can-Do Clemency for her support, and Romana Brant for sharing her story. Music in this episode is from Ketsa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices