Last May, Brandy Moore immediately knew she wanted to tell her story. She had just been arrested and jailed on a four-year-old charge of assault stemming from using drugs during her 2019 pregnancy.
Because of Mississippi Today’s past reporting on the topic in 2019 and 2023, Moore knew where to turn. This led to Mississippi Today’s discovery that several women from Moore’s four-county central Mississippi district had been prosecuted and incarcerated for the same offense, despite the hazy legal theory in each case, including four women who were still imprisoned on sentences of up to 20 years. Moore’s case was quickly dropped.
Since Mississippi Today published Moore’s story, the local judge signed orders releasing the four women and they are no longer in prison. The women’s release shaved a combined 49 years off of the women’s sentences and saved taxpayers a total of over $1 million that it would have cost to hold them.
INVESTIGATION: Facing decades in prison, a Mississippi mother defied a prosecutor and a hazy legal theory
Justice advocates have praised Moore for her courage and the impact of her decision to speak out. Moore said based on her past experiences, it’s difficult to feel proud of herself, but she’s trying to savor the moment.
“It’s so hard to believe that I have caused this domino effect for these women and reproductive rights in this district that is one of the most corrupt in this state,” Moore said. “Even just getting the ball rolling for these ladies, there’s so much hope.”
Each of the incarcerated women had pleaded guilty and received suspended prison sentences while they attend drug court, a rigorous intervention program with more than 20 strict conditions. Unbeknownst to the local District Attorney Steven Kilgore, he told Mississippi Today, the women had been picked up on violations of the program and handed their full prison sentences.
Two of the women are now free, save for probation obligations, while two others, because of past orders in their cases, have been transferred to the Flowood Restitution Center. The restitution center is a probation program that resembles a prison work camp and was the subject of another award-winning Mississippi Today investigation, “Want out of Jail? First You Have To Take a Fast-Food Job.”
Those women will be held until they earn enough money to pay off the large fee associated with attending drug court, typically $5,000, plus court costs and fines. One of them, her aunt told Mississippi Today, was sent to work at Wendy’s, but she’s only been given an 11-hour work week, causing uncertainty about how long it will take to earn off her debts and finish the program. Still, the cousin who is currently caring for three of her children has agreed to let the mother visit with them when she’s released, the aunt said.
The woman’s original release date from prison was November of 2038.
Moore chose to share her experience despite the stigma surrounding substance abuse and pregnancy, and she anticipated the backlash that might come next. Sebastopol is a small community, and her neighbors would certainly see her story in the news.
Instead, Moore said the support she’s received in response to the article publishing has been overwhelming. She said she’s been stopped by the postmaster at the post office. The cashier in the grocery store. “I just want you to know I’m so proud of you,” they told her, Moore said.
On her most recent visit to the pediatrician for her daughter Remi — the one she’d been accused of assaulting — the doctor gave Moore a long hug and cried.
“I never doubted you for a minute. I know what kind of mother you are, they could have just asked me,” the doctor said, according to Moore.
After Mississippi Today’s story published, Moore wrote to each of the women in prison. But they were released before she had a chance to hear back. Moore said she plans to eventually get together with the mothers — whose fate she almost met, and had a hand in reversing — and she can’t wait for that day.
“I’m looking forward to the day that we all will be able to sit down and have supper together and talk about the win for everybody,” Moore said.
The post Women released from prison following Mississippi Today investigation, mother sharing her story appeared first on Mississippi Today.