Sometimes we can be one-dimensional in how we create change, and I want to be a part of change that isnt just about capital or policy. "[22], Trenton Copeland was profiled in Rolling Stone magazine for his petition for clemency to President Obama after receiving a life sentence for three nonviolent drug offenses. REGISTRATION REQUIREDfor all FAN webinar events. Please scroll down to see information about Brittany K. Barnett Social media profiles. The first step for policymakers and decision makers is to acknowledge that its been an utter failure. [2], On June 19, 2019, Barnett and Cody launched the Third Strike Project, which focuses on a separate provision of the First Step Act that allows inmates convicted in crack cocaine cases to retroactively be eligible for consideration to receive reduced sentences. Another reason I wrote the book is to tell the truth about that. [12] The campaign was largely funded by Kardashian West, and she was widely credited for the success of the campaign in media headlines. Your email address will not be published. And I would be remiss not to say that financial resources are always needed to get more people free and break more chains. Bogota. I wanted it to shine in a way that hasnt been done. She was arrested and sentenced to 8 years in prison for failing to attain sobriety during probation. But Sharanda's case opened the door to a harrowing journey through the criminal justice system. East Texas is my home. Her tirelesswork hasfreednumerous individuals from overly harsh sentences imposed by draconian federal drug laws, including seven clients who received executive clemency from President Obama. And that really got momentum for the movement. His doors are never unlocked. Barnett is also in the process of launching a venture capital fund to ensure formerly incarcerated people have access to capital and resources so they can have what she calls life after life.. She added to her education by studying for another Juris Doctor in law at Southern Methodist University. Through the organization Buried Alive, which she co-founded with Sharanda Jones and Corey Jacobs, she came to national attention when she and her co-counsel, MiAngel Cody, litigated the release of 17 people in 90 days. Brittany K. Barnett is an award-winning attorney and entrepreneur focused on social impact investing. [22] As a liaison between a cocaine dealer and a supplier, Sharanda Jones was charged with "drug conspiracy" in August 1999. And it looks different here. This dream, however, had faded by the time she was in high school because there was no lawyer to look up to in her home area. Many took a plea deal which meant serving 14 years in jail. Presidents and governors should be granting clemency on a regular basis. Everybody was locked up, and it has had a devastating impact for generations. lawyer. He and his co-defendants were just fringe participants in a much larger drug conspiracy, said formerU.S. District Court JudgeKevin Sharp. So far the fund has started two tech startups, two food trucks, and a cannabis brand. If your flight plans were recently disrupted, theres a chance you could be compensated. As the daughter of a formerly incarcerated mother, Brittany knows first-hand the impact of mass incarceration is far-reaching, devastating families and entire communities. Girls Embracing Mothers was born from my experience of having a mother incarcerated, Barnett said. Barnett was on the legal team of Alice Marie Johnson, a woman who was serving the 21st year a life sentence for nonviolent drug offenses. BKB: The war on drugs is still in full throttle, and that has to change. Barnett is from Texas. More than 30 people were arrested. The heartbeat. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Since the murders of her family members, she has been a passionate voice for forgiveness and mercy, particularly in the criminal justice system. That's where Brittany K. Barnett comes in. Foundations want to change policy, which is necessary. entrepreneur. 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Practice Areas: None Reported By Attorney. Dallas, TX 75204-2335. In case after case, I saw men who resembled my father, my uncles, my friends, stand before the court and plead for their lives, she writes. Young, now 32, was in jail 10 years, one month and 10 days. It used to be that doors unlocked, windows wide open part of Texas I talk about in the book, but I know my dad, for example, is always in fear of having his home broken into. While Kim Kardashian West made headlines and was praised for helping get these 17 prisoners released from prison (she did lend her money and star power), it was really the tireless dedication and uncountable hours of Brittany and MiAngel that got these prisoners released. The program aimed at helping girls reduce the trauma of having a parent in prison and giving them hope for a better life. At the airport in Nashville, the first person to greet him was the same judge who sentenced him to prison years ago. [2] She then went to Winstead PC in the Finance & Banking Practice Group. When Barnett was 22, her mother, a crack cocaine addict, was arrested and sent to prison for eight years. She represented lending institutions in matters related to real estate, secure financing, and acquisition financings. Emily McCullar is a senior editor covering pop culture, news, and Texas history. Its lost some of its innocence. author of A KNOCK AT MIDNIGHT: A STORY OF HOPE, JUSTICE & FREEDOM / @buriedaliveproj / @gem_amplifyher / Manifest Freedom Fund [25] In response, Barnett said, "I was overjoyed when I received the call from Pardon Attorney Robert Zauzmer telling me the President had granted clemency to my client, Trenton Copeland, who was being buried alive under an unduly harsh sentence of life without parole for a nonviolent drug offense. TM: What needs to change in our criminal justice system, and what needs to change about prisons specifically? [3] Sierra Crane Murdoch of The New York Times said the book "unfurls like a coming-of-age story," but said that "her depictions of her mother are flat, distant. [22] In response to the decision, Barnett said "The presidents mercy and belief in redemption literally saved Coreys life. She credits her mothers own incarceration with teaching her that persons in prison were often treated as unworthy of any compassion or concern. After graduation, she worked for accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers as a CPA, and studied for her LSAT. She then went to Winstead PC in the Finance & Banking Practice Group. Brittany K Barnett: A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom (09/25/20) Brittany K. Barnett is an attorney and entrepreneur. she is one of famous attorney and criminal justice reform advocate with the age 19 years old group. There are so many forms of trauma I never realized were happening to me, my family and my community. We can get into ways of making prisons more comfortable, but the most important thing is releasing people. Brownsvilles New Independent Bookstore Is an Oasis in the Desert, The Lone Bookstore in a Town With No Library. I tell everyone: find the area that youre most passionate about, whether its bail reform, whether its marijuana justice, whether its sentencing reform or parole and probation. Please look for it! Brittany K. Barnett is an American attorney and criminal justice reform advocate. Ms. Barnett will be interviewed by Jeanne Bishop. More inside. Before she specialized in getting people out of prison, Brittany K. Barnett was a young girl living in a wooden house in Fulbright, Texas. It seemed like an accepted part of life, like, This is just the way it is. It wasnt until I got to college that I realized how powerful it was. That was until her criminal justice angels Brittany K Barnett and MiAngel Cody came along and took on her case. [3] One of her clients, Corey Jacobs, forwarded her the sermon to cheer her up when she was discouraged due to setbacks in his case. Brittany K. Barnett & MiAngel Cody are two black female lawyers working hard behind-the-scenes to free non-violent offenders who have been buried alive with massive prison sentences. I came to terms with trauma. entrepreneur. $25,000 donation to launch the campaign. Milena Reign helps people lean into their gifts of storytelling to inspire the world. With every freedom we secure, were pushing forward a movement of people and power and dignity that is going to have a ripple effect on anyone they may positively impact in the future.. While researching a paper on how race impacted sentencing for her Critical Race Theory class, she came across the case of Sharanda Jones, a woman who had been sentenced to life without parole for a first-time, non-violent drug offense. BKB: I would say probably half my time is spent with Buried Alive, working on fundraising to build capacity and hire a couple more lawyers. So it had this racially biased impact, and I think that thats how we got here. Her forthcoming memoir, AKnockatMidnight, will be published by The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, in June 2020. That organization is based in Dallas and we work to empower girls whose mothers are in prison. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Under the federal Three Strike law, defendants receive mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if they have three federal convictions for serious violent felonies or crimes related to drug trafficking. Brittany is founder of several nonprofits and social enterprises, including the Buried Alive Project, Girls Embracing Mothers, XVI Capital Partners, and Milena Reign LLC. Ms. Bishop is the sister of Nancy Bishop Langert, who was murdered in 1990 along with her husband and their unborn baby. They understand that. I was witnessing mass incarceration at its height and could not help but be affected.. In addition to her successful law practice, Ms. Barnett is also an entrepreneur focused on social impact investing. His doors are never unlocked. Ms. Bishop is the sister of Nancy Bishop Langert, who was murdered in 1990 along with her husband and their unborn baby. [8] The graduate students provide research and work on the individual cases. All we had was Just Say No, which created this culture of, If you do drugs, its your fault. There were times when she missed the clemency list, and I couldnt even get out of bed. "All of my clients were serving time in federal prison under outdated federal drug laws and so I've had 7 clients who received clemency under President Obama and four clients over Donald Trump," Barnett said. Sometimes we can be one-dimensional in how we create change, and I want to be a part of change that isnt just about capital or policy. Most people think of prisoners as people unworthy of compassion or love. Dad arrested after video shows toddler with gun: Whats next? Contact the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association at 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, or call 312-988-6738 for questions about the approval of Southern University Law Center. Note: The link to register for the AFTER-HOURS will appear in red font at the top of your email receipt from The Book Stall. Title: Attorney, author and co-founder. Im hopeful that we see a push to go beyond the First Step Act of 2018 and move on to the second, third, fourth and fifth step, starting with retroactivity and some of the laws that were changed. A vision of sustainable liberation for justice-impacted people. The lack of funding has been extremely frustrating, because were really trying to save lives, and were struggling for funding. Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business. I think all the time, How do I bridge the gap for my clients? Discover Brittany K. Barnetts Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. More recently, she was part of the legal team that helped secure clemency from President Trump for Alice Johnson. TX License Date: 11/04/2011. After submitting her paper, Joness case plagued Barnett, and she wrote to Jones offering her assistance; the women began corresponding through email. Only two of us. Semi-Annual Crime Stats Report, Students Faculty AlumniFaculty DirectoryVote EverywhereLaw ClinicsUn(re)solved Exhibition, Policies & Forms Information Technology Consumer Information (ABA Required Disclosures) Student Accommodations. Her background was not all that pleasing as she was a victim of poor parenting. How do I get to economic liberation? Im proud to say Im an investor in Sharandas food truck, and Im really excited about helping launch more projects just like that one. When youre in it, you dont see how bad it is. Through the organization Buried Alive, which she co-founded with Sharanda Jones and Corey Jacobs, she came to national attention when she and her co-counsel, MiAngel Cody, litigated the release of 17 people in 90 days. She has founded several nonprofits and social enterprises, such as the Buried Alive Project, Girls Embracing Mothers, XVI Capital Partners, and Milena Reign LLC. But you also need to free people while youre working to change policy, because people cant wait. "[7] After graduation, she worked for accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers as a CPA,[8] and studied for her LSAT. [19], Barnett's book A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom was released on September 8, 2020. Regardless, Barnet still valued education she understood it as a path to freedom. with lot of social media fan she often posts many personal photos and videos to interact with her huge fan base social media plateform. With Young now out of prison, he plans to work closely with Barnett and former judge Sharp to help others they say are buried alive.. Commerce. TM: The East Texas you describe is so idyllic, and its clear you grew up in one of those tight-knit communities where people looked after one another. [26] The White House released a statement, saying "While this Administration will always be very tough on crime, it believes that those who have paid their debt to society and worked hard to better themselves while in prison deserve a second chance. Through the organization Buried Alive, which she co-founded with Sharanda Jones and Corey Jacobs, she came to national attention when she and her co-counsel, MiAngel Cody, litigated the release of 17 people in 90 days. "[20] USA Today included it on its list of 5 books not to miss for the week of September 5, 2020. When we think about the crack epidemic or the war on drugs, we think about New York or Oakland, but not the South. BKB: Right now Im working on sustainable liberation. Attorney And Criminal Justice Reform Advocate As far as prisons go, they have to release people. A mandatory life sentence was never an appropriate sentence for what he did. Its much more subtle, and even though you dont hear about it on the news, families are still being destroyed. The -born attorney and criminal justice reform advocate expert is arguably the worlds most influential Brittany K. Barnett is expert, with a wide-ranging social media outreach. He was the perfect example of what bothered me about the job, Sharp said. Thank you, Have you picked up a copy of the November 2022 Iss. Award-winning attorney and entrepreneur Brittany K. Barnett discusses her memoir A KNOCK AT MIDNIGHT (9/8/20; Crown). Brittany K.s income mostly comes from and basic source is being a successful American attorney and criminal justice reform advocate. Mandatory minimum sentences forced judges to dole out extreme punishments for crack cocaine possession, disproportionately affecting Black Americans. Some of the most brilliant people Ive met in my life are my clients. Attorney and entrepreneur Brittany K. Barnett fights to free people from prison and champions restoring and nurturing the creative ingenuity of justice-impacted people. I decided there was nothing more urgent than freedom. She was just a rural East Texas girl with a big, supportive extended family and few cares in the world. And we did. These are nonviolent drug offenses. But fortunately, I shook that thought off every day. Barnet is also the founder of Manifest Freedom, a social organization with the mission of changing societys perception of imprisonment. Her Dallas-based nonprofit, works to free those who are eligible for release, but have been left in prison under outdated Reagan-era laws. And then the other 50% of my time is cultivating this vision I have about sustainable liberation and venture capital and investments. She later came across the similar case of Donal Clark, who was serving a 30-year sentence for a first-time, non-violent drug offense. At 22, her mother was sentenced to eight years for failing a series of drug tests while on probation. MV: How did the United States as a country get to where were at right now, with 1,300 to 1,500 people serving life in prison for drug crimes? Check out this Octobers living the dream featur. the Mortal Mustache, a.k.a. [9] Barnett is also the founder of Girls Embracing Mothers, a non-profit organization that provides support for girls with mothers in prison. Thanks to Attorney Brittany K. Barnett and her team of civil rights lawyers, Young is free. Brittany K. Barnett: The writing process for me was therapeutic, in a sense, because I start with my childhood story of growing up as a Black girl in rural East Texas and dealing with the challenges of having a mother who was addicted to drugs and dealing with her ultimate incarceration. Brittany K. Barnett is an award-winning attorney and entrepreneur focused on social impact investing. Even with all of that, I still love East Texas. But the two administrations were quite different. October 28, 2020 2 Brittany Barnett. I wanted it to shine in a way that hasnt been done. During this time she founded Girls Embracing Mothers Inc, a nonprofit organization empowering girls to break the beliefs of incarceration and live a purposeful life. [13] Commentary on her involvement ranged from praise, to assertions that it was a public relations stunt, to accusations that she was taking the credit for work she did not do. In 2010, his third strike came after federal investigators conducted a drug sting in Clarksville, Tennessee. [5][6] When Barnett was 22, her mother was sentenced to eight years for failing a series of drug tests while on probation. I think all the time, How do I bridge the gap for my clients? Tom Foster writes about business, innovation, and creative people. My mom was addicted to crack cocaine. She is dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system and has won freedom for numerous people serving fundamental death sentences for federal drug offenses - including seven clients who received executive clemency from President Barack Obama. 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