Apparantly, SOME lives are worth less than $11.

The Scott Sisters.

I brought them up earlier this week in class.

I have attached at the bottom of this post the "NY TIMES" Opinion piece of this story, but just a quick run down.

16 years ago, sisters "Jaime" and "Gladys" Scott, now 36 and 38 (respectively), were both handed life sentences after being (wrongfully) accused of a robbery that resulted in a total of 11 dollars lost.

Those involved in the robbery later made it known that they only testified against the sisters in an attempt to receive lighter sentences. They made it clear later on that the sisters were not involved in the robbery. Also, the sisters had no prior records at the time of the crime.

However, I feel this is besides the point. Had the sisters been rightfully found guilty of the crime, the sentence placed upon them was and is extremely harsh.

The sisters are still serving their sentences to this day. Even more shocking, the attention brought upon them has only JUST begun. Months ago very few in the media even knew who the Scott sisters were.

By the way, sister "Jamie" is in danger of losing her eye sight due to her failing kidneys and spotty dialysis treatement at the prison.

Jamie seen here with her grandchildren while attending the funeral of another sister.

What are some of the things you all feel plays a major role in the sisters' double life sentences?

-Race?
-Gender?
-Social Class?
-Area of living (rural Mississippi)?
-OTHER _______________________ ?
-ALL OF THE ABOVE?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/opinion/16herbert.html

http://freethescottsisters.blogspot.com/