Since 2016, Barnett has earned freedom for 53 incarcerated people. They are helping shift the paradigm and helping change the narrative on how people look at formerly incarcerated people, Barnett says. Check out this Octobers living the dream featur. BKB: The culprit was the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act that implemented this 100-to-1 sentencing ratio between crack and powder cocaine that punished crack much more severely and implemented mandatory minimums. Darryl Hinton Clemency shouldnt be this big news story every once in a while. Young, now 32, was in jail 10 years, one month and 10 days. BKB: It definitely was not an easy decision to make, because I enjoyed my job as a corporate attorney and Im just going to be real I also enjoyed the financial comfort of it. He made a Despite being sentenced to life in prison with no parole, he says he never gave up hope that he would be free one day. She shares stories of the innovation languishing in America's prisons -- and a vision for investing in people whose unjust sentences . Regardless, Barnet still valued education she understood it as a path to freedom. Even with all of that, I still love East Texas. Learn How much net worth Brittany K. is in this year and how she spend her expenses? With Sharps support,a major win followed for Young. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. How has that part of Texas changed since you were a kid? I knew my mom had a drug problem, but I didnt realize she had a disease. Right now, we see this opioid epidemic happening, which is horrible and devastating, but were rightfully treating it as a public health crisis. There are so many forms of trauma I never realized were happening to me, my family and my community. And we did. I made the decision to resign, and through President Obamas clemency initiative, I had seven clients receive clemency. And I wrote the book to recognize the people. Whenever I think of it, I think of family. Was that always your intention when you set out to write a memoir? The lack of funding has been extremely frustrating, because were really trying to save lives, and were struggling for funding. Its much more subtle, and even though you dont hear about it on the news, families are still being destroyed. More empathy, whether it be just in the judicial system or whether it be in every area of hospitality.. And we did. But the two administrations were quite different. [1] She grew up in an environment close to drug culture. At the age of 19 years, Brittany K. Barnett weight not available right now. Just over two hours northeast of Dallas, this tiny, pastoral hamlet was home to 150 people who all knew one another. 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 received her Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. Required fields are marked *. When we think about the crack epidemic or the war on drugs, we think about New York or Oakland, but not the South. MV: What takes up the bulk of your time right now? [2] Barnett credits her mother's own incarceration with teaching her that persons in prison were often treated as "unworthy of any compassion or concern. 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. Her Dallas-based nonprofit, works to free those who are eligible for release, but have been left in prison under outdated Reagan-era laws. Please look for it! His story made national headlines and the media attention caught the eye of Barnett. GEM empowerswomen in prison and their daughters to break the cycle of incarceration. 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. Despite growing evidence in the missing Ana Walshe case, attorney Duncan Levin said this is the opposite of a perfect murder.. At the airport in Nashville, the first person to greet him was the same judge who sentenced him to prison years ago. Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy, Regina Dominican College Preparatory High School, The Family Institute at Northwestern University. [9] Barnett is also the founder of Girls Embracing Mothers, a non-profit organization that provides support for girls with mothers in prison. Everybody was locked up, and it has had a devastating impact for generations. As an SMU law student interning in a Houston court, Barnett had a front-row seat to the horrors created by the mandatory minimum laws sending generations of Black Texans to federal prison. against draconian drug sentencesand how her work is only just beginning. His windows are never open. What was the culprit for somebody like Sharanda Jones, who was convicted of a single nonviolent drug crime, being given the same sentence as the Unabomber? I felt an obligation to be in those boardrooms as a Black woman to help pave the way for others. Brittany is founder of a series of nonprofits and social enterprises, including the Buried Alive Project, Girls Embracing Mothers, the Manifest Freedom Fund, and Milena Reign LLC. [8] The graduate students provide research and work on the individual cases. You know, it just shows that we have a lot more work to do, said Barnett. Thats part of why I wrote the book: to show what its like to grow up Black in Texas. I came to terms with trauma. I always knew that I was going to get Chris Young free. Whenever I think of it, I think of family. 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. 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. And it looks different here. October 28, 2020 2 Brittany Barnett. It implemented the 100-to-1 ratio that was arbitrary and had no rational basis other than that its no secret that more affluent white people were using powder cocaine at the time and crack cocaine was running rampant through Black communities. Anifa Mvuemba, Wikipedia, Bio, Age, Husband, Net Worth, Hanifa. Commerce. Inspired by her own difficult experience as the daughter of an incarcerated mother, Brittany founded GEM to empower women in prison and their daughters to break the cycle of incarceration and lead . [18] On August 29, 2019, rapper Pusha T released the song "Coming Home" with singer Lauryn Hill to bring awareness to the Third Strike Project. 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. Weve gotten by without help before, and we can keep doing what were doing if the help comes or not. Barnet was born on February 24, 1984. the Mortal Mustache, a.k.a. "[14][15] By September 2020, Barnett and Cody had successfully litigated over 40 cases for early release. While Kim Kardashian West has been getting credit for her "efforts" in prison reform, these are the ladies actually putting in the work. Founded in 2014. Barnett embarked on her childhood dreams by joining the University of Houston Law Center where she did a Juris Doctor in law. 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. "[7] After graduation, she worked for accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers as a CPA,[8] and studied for her LSAT. Barnetts new memoir, A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom, explores how that war shaped her life and career. That organization is based in Dallas and we work to empower girls whose mothers are in prison. [22] As a liaison between a cocaine dealer and a supplier, Sharanda Jones was charged with "drug conspiracy" in August 1999. Brittany K. Barnett is an attorney, author, and entrepreneur who thrives at the intersection of hope, justice, and freedom. Brittany K. Barnettis an award-winning attorney who has dedicated her life to criminal justice reform. Then at 19,another conviction,for possession of less than half a gram of cocaine and marijuana. In addition to her successful law practice, Ms. Barnett is also an entrepreneur focused on social impact investing. Barnett is also the founder of Girls Embracing Mothers, a non-profit organization that provides support for girls with mothers in prison. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (NewsNation Now) Faced with two life sentences in jail, Chris Young was told the only way out was death. Ms. Barnett will be interviewed by Jeanne Bishop. When the crack epidemic hit, it wasnt treated like a public health crisis. 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. Theyve each left their fingerprints on my soul. One time she wrote about sports. Over the past few months, claims BET.com, 90 Days of Freedom and The Decarceration Collective have helped free approximately 17 women and men from prison, allowing them to get . Thats what we need more in this world, more love, more compassion, said Young. Investigators charged the Tennessee native for his role during a drug trafficking sting. She represented lending institutions in matters related to real estate, secure financing, and acquisition financings. She advocated for President Donald Trump to help get Young out of jail. She was just a rural East Texas girl with a big, supportive extended family and few cares in the world. A vision of sustainable liberation for justice-impacted people. But as you see in the book, the war on drugs was hitting us hard, and as a kid, that was hard to see. Last summer, Kim Kardashian West received tons of praise for . 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. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. She was set to never breathe free air again, and she was the one encouraging me. Regardless, Barnet maintained a close relationship with her after she was released. BKB: The war on drugs is still in full throttle, and that has to change. TM: In A Knock at Midnight, you talk about how writing letters to your mother in prison helped you process what you were feeling about her incarceration. [1], She received her Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. If your flight plans were recently disrupted, theres a chance you could be compensated. "[28] The case led to Trump's support of the First Step Act,[29] which, among other things, retroactively applies the Fair Sentencing Act and increases the number of good conduct time credits prisoners receive. These are nonviolent drug offenses. Young decided to fight for his day in court, but he would ultimately lose. Criminal justice reform is popular right now, its fashionable. [24] Copeland was one of 330 commutations the president granted on his last day in office. That was until her criminal justice angels Brittany K Barnett and MiAngel Cody came along and took on her case. In 2010, his third strike came after federal investigators conducted a drug sting in Clarksville, Tennessee. She was set to never breathe free air again, and she was the one encouraging me. She was arrested and sentenced to 8 years in prison for failing to attain sobriety during probation. 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. Also, help by voting and getting involved in not just national elections, but local elections that have a huge impact as well. In 2019, Buried Alive nabbed headlines for freeing 17 people in ninety days and receiving vocal support from Kim Kardashian West. When Barnett was 22, her mother, a crack cocaine addict, was arrested and sent to prison for eight years. The lack of funding has been extremely frustrating, because were really trying to save lives, and were struggling for funding. Here we are updating just estimated networth of Brittany K. Barnett salary, income and assets. When Barnett was 22, her mother, a crack cocaine addict, was arrested and sent to prison for eight years. The childhood experience she had motivated her to help others get perspective on prisoners. All we had was Just Say No, which created this culture of, If you do drugs, its your fault. Moved by Sharanda's plight, Brittany set to work to gain her freedom. There were times when she missed the clemency list, and I couldnt even get out of bed. brittanykbarnett Verified 113 posts 18.7K followers 997 following Brittany K. Barnett attorney. BKB: No, it hasnt changed. Most people think of prisoners as people unworthy of compassion or love. Foundations want to change policy, which is necessary. [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. Bogota. 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. entrepreneur. I love East Texas. lawyer. It helps to already be famous to become a social media influencer, but she demonstrates that you need to have a raw or personal touch and engage with your followers if you want to do well on Instagram Facebook, Twiter, Youtube, etc. She didnt get the help she needed. Mandatory minimum sentences forced judges to dole out extreme punishments for crack cocaine possession, disproportionately affecting Black Americans. In 2019, Buried Alive nabbed headlines for freeing 17 people in ninety days and receiving vocal support from Kim Kardashian West. In September of 2020, we actually had a huge victory in the court and got Chris life sentence reduced to 14 years, and that was amazing in and of itself. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Brittany K. Barnett is an American attorney and criminal justice reform advocate. Gun safety and children: Are free locks enough? Eligible to Practice in Texas Bar Card Number: 24078196 TX License Date: 11/04/2011 Primary Practice Location: Dallas , Texas 3400 Oak Grove Ave Ste 370 Dallas, TX 75204-2335 Practice Areas: None Reported By Attorney Statutory Profile Last Certified On: 03/03 . Barnett attended The University of Texas at Arlington, earning a bachelors degree in 2005 and a masters degree in 2006 in accounting. After her masters, she became an associate attorney at Winstead PC, focusing on corporate finance. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and much more. She wrote a best-selling book, A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom, which she hopes will open a window for the world to see that her clients are human beings just like any other. She added to her education by studying for another Juris Doctor in law at Southern Methodist University. I hope readers of my book will see that the true loss of mass incarceration is not just the lives stolen by injustice, but the beauty and brilliance that each incarcerated person might have contributed to this country. 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. But Sharanda's case opened the door to a harrowing journey through the criminal justice system. 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. TM: Out of all the people youve helped, what stories affected you the most? 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. Thank you, Have you picked up a copy of the November 2022 Iss. BKB: Im hopeful that the Biden administration will bring back a clemency initiative so that it is normalized. Pamela Bardhi, who was friendly with Ana Walshe in professional settings, said she never saw any indications Washes life was in danger. Do we ever have the resources to process what its like to be kids on the front lines of the war on drugs?. Universal Studios Is Coming to Frisco. entrepreneur. We need the laws to change, for sure, but we need change thats more than that. [16] Following her win, she partnered with Barnett in representing and successfully litigating the release of Alfred Rivera after serving 18 years of a life sentence for non-violent drug offenses. In her riveting debut,A Knock at Midnight:A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom,Ms. Barnett sharesthe powerful story of her awakening to the inhumanity of Americas criminal justice system and her ongoing fight to unlock the human potential trapped senselessly behind bars. All we had was Just Say No, which created this culture of, If you do drugs, its your fault. She claims that laws in the United States unjustly put some people in prison whereas better systems would be used to improve their lives. This event will be recorded and available later on our website and YouTube channel. If you do drugs, youre a monster. No one was trying to help, and I didnt see that until years later. More than 30 people were arrested. Brittany K. Barnett, better known by her family name Brittany K. Barnett, is a popular American attorney and criminal justice reform advocate. And its all because of these misguided appeals for law and order under this failed War on Drugs. I was thinking about the opioid epidemic, too, and how its being treated as a public health crisis, and rightfully so. Thats how we can begin to change hearts and minds. Along with two of her clients, Sharanda Jones and Corey Jacobs, both of whom were serving life sentences without the possibility of parole before receiving clemency, Barnett co-founded the Buried Alive Project, a nonprofit that helps people like Jones and Jacobs. [3], Barnett attended The University of Texas at Arlington,[4] earning a bachelor's degree in 2005 and a master's degree in 2006 in accounting. Questions about the accreditation of Southern University and A&M College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOCs website (www.sacscoc.org). Its much more subtle, and even though you dont hear about it on the news, families are still being destroyed. Brittany K. Barnett is a best-selling author, attorney and entrepreneur who thrives at the intersection of hope, justice and freedom. She added the Manifest Freedom Fund and Milena Reign, which raise funds and resources for entrepreneurship through which people coming out of prison can access opportunities. Subscribe to receive personal updates from Brittany. Marijuana Venture is the leading B2B monthly publication for the cannabis industry. Youngs story caught the eye of Kim Kardashian. 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.. Also learn about how she is rich at the age of 49 years old? I think all the time, How do I bridge the gap for my clients? Bar Card Number: 24078196. Many of them were family. I realized that we had uncovered a huge issue in his case as it related to ineffective assistance of counsel as it related to his plea negotiation, Barnett said. Brittany K Barnett Age, Family, and Husband Barnet was born on February 24, 1984. [3], Multiple clients of Barnett took advantage of the clemency initiative President Obama and former Attorney General Eric Holder began in 2014. But Im not playing those games anymore. #AKnockAtMidnight: A Story of Hope, Justice & Freedom @buriedaliveproject @girlsembracingmothers #ManifestFreedom linktr.ee/brittanykbarnett Posts Reels Videos Tagged Show More Posts from brittanykbarnett [16] Her stepdad (also an attorney) had previously worked with Barnett to release someone who had been imprisoned for 18 years. MV: Obviously, the inauguration of President Joe Biden probably brings back some uncertainty, but what are your early thoughts about how the Biden administration will impact criminal justice reform? Barnet is also the founder of Manifest Freedom, a social organization with the mission of changing societys perception of imprisonment. Marijuana Venture 4000 Airport Way S. Seattle, WA 98108, @2020 - All Right Reserved. Company: Buried Alive Project. author of A KNOCK AT MIDNIGHT: A STORY OF HOPE, JUSTICE & FREEDOM / @buriedaliveproj / @gem_amplifyher / Manifest Freedom Fund She is an activist attorney, criminal justice advocate, and author whose purpose is to give people hope, justice, and freedom. Practice Areas: None Reported By Attorney. All of my clients were serving time in federal prison under outdated federal drug laws and so Ive had 7 clients who received clemency under President Obama and four clients over Donald Trump, Barnett said. Two of her clients, Corey Jacobs and Sharanda Jones, now work along side Barnett in the organization. What did you learn about yourself as you were writing this book? I encourage anyone with even a drop of interest in this topic to visit a prison, to visit people in prison, and they can do that through their local organizations. AMAZON EDITORS' PICK FOR THE BEST BOOK OF 2020. As the daughter of a formerly incarcerated mother andthe once-girlfriend of an abusive drug dealer, Ms. Barnett has felt the far-reaching effects of mass incarceration firsthand. She then went to Winstead PC in the Finance & Banking Practice Group. BKB: Over 80% of people in federal prison for drugs today are black and brown. [11], In early 2019, Barnett and MiAngel Cody (founder of and lead counsel for The Decarceration Collective law office & consultancy) started the 90 Days to Freedom campaign, a push to release nonviolent drug offenders from life sentences. Another reason I wrote the book is to tell the truth about that. Thanks to Attorney Brittany K. Barnett and her team of civil rights lawyers, Young is free. Before shifting her entire focus toward civil rights endeavors, Barnett was on track for a lucrative career as a corporate lawyer, working on mergers and acquisitions. Brittany K. Barnett (formerly Byrd) is an American attorney and criminal justice reform advocate. Milena Reign helps people lean into their gifts of storytelling to inspire the world. Her forthcoming memoir, AKnockatMidnight, will be published by The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, in June 2020. Ms. Bishop is the sister of Nancy Bishop Langert, who was murdered in 1990 along with her husband and their unborn baby. Brittany K. Barnett. Statutory Profile Last Certified On: 03/03/2021. Presidents and governors should be granting clemency on a regular basis. Find the area youre passionate about and make a difference that way. It was this appeal for law and order, it was this fear that was carried out into the country about drugs and crack, in particular, which is unfortunate because we had this crack epidemic. And I make no excuses for my clients selling drugs. 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. Federal Judge Kevin Sharp sentenced him to two lifelong terms in prison without parole on a nonviolent drug charge. Barnett is also the founder of Girls Embracing Mothers, a non-profit organization that provides support for girls with mothers in prison. Attorney and East Texas native Brittany K. Barnett has earned freedom for 53 people imprisoned under outdated drug laws. We need the laws to change, for sure, but we need change thats more than that. We have people serving life sentences today for marijuana and other drug offenses. Barnet endeavors to show the world that once-incarcerated people can thrive and succeed in life once they have access to resources. Some of the most brilliant people Ive met in my life are my clients. Why you should listen As a corporate attorney, Brittany K. Barnett was committed to pro bono representation of clients unjustly sentenced under federal drug laws. The argument is that they shouldnt have been sentenced to life. , explores how that war shaped her life and career. As an SMU law student interning in a Houston court, Barnett had a front-row seat to the horrors created by the mandatory minimum laws sending generations of Black Texans to federal prison. Dominique Broadway, Wikipedia, Bio, Age, Husband, Reviews, Net Worth. also know about her Social media accounts i.e. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, American Bar Association's Young Lawyer Division, "GIRLS EMBRACING MOTHERS Brittany Byrd '09", "Meet the Kim Kardashian-backed 'women warriors' who free people from life sentences", "PricewaterhouseCoopers Company - 27050 Employees - US Staff", "Good Works Under 40 honors top Dallas community volunteers", "Non-violent drug sentencing has left thousands of people buried alive in prison", "Sens. I really wanted the South to shine in the book. Education is definitely key and there are local grassroots organizations people can find in their area that focus on transforming the criminal justice system that can help them get involved locally. Chris Young said he plans on working with Barnett on other justice reform projects in the future. BONUS AFTER-HOURS EVENT: Attendees who purchase a copy of Ms. Barnetts book A Knock at Midnight from FANs partner bookseller The Book Stall are invited to attend an AFTER-HOURS event hosted by Ms. Barnett and Ms. Bishop that will start immediately after the webinar. Her background was not all that pleasing as she was a victim of poor parenting. investor. BKB: I came to terms with trauma. The U.S. Conference of Mayors will address the nations immigration crisis Wednesday. 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. Her tirelesswork hasfreednumerous individuals from overly harsh sentences imposed by draconian federal drug laws, including seven clients who received executive clemency from President Obama. Youngs journey behind bars began when he was just 18-years-old. A lot of the pushback we get is we dont fund direct services. [12] The campaign was largely funded by Kardashian West, and she was widely credited for the success of the campaign in media headlines. July 19, 2021 [1] 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. They are responsible. Fulbright. So it had this racially biased impact, and I think that thats how we got here. The leading resource for cannabis retailers and growers. She was going to die in prison. But you also need to free people while youre working to change policy, because people cant wait. REGISTRATION REQUIREDfor all FAN webinar events. The Buried Alive Project focuses solely on people serving life for drug offenses, which includes about 1,300 to 1,500 people nationally. suzanne snyder measurements, member of a government department crossword,
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