Is Kemba Smith a member of Delta Sigma Theta? All we know about prison reform activist pardoned by Biden

On January 19, 2025, former president Joe Biden pardoned Kemba Smith Pradia who was convicted in 1994 of a non-violent drug crime. She was sentenced to 24.5 years in prison despite never having sold or used drugs herself. Pradia is an esteemed prison reform activist and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

On January 14, 2018, she was initiated into the Henrico County Alumnae Chapter. Kemba had been an active participant in several activities undertaken by the sorority. In these activities, she has shared her experiences and has urged criminal justice reform in the United States, something aligned with the goals of Delta Sigma Theta.

Through an Instagram post, Delta Sigma Theta thanked Biden for the presidential pardon. Looking at Kemba's journey, they say:

“Her number, 24, poignantly reflects the years she was unjustly sentenced. However, today’s pardon marks a significant milestone, as for the past 25 years, despite her commutation, her criminal record erected barriers in her life outside prison.”

“We are thrilled that this painful chapter ends today with a full pardon from President Biden, finally expunging her criminal record.”

Biden's pardon clears Smith Pradia's slate, giving her better opportunities to seek education and advance professionally. Biden said in a statement that "second chances matter," noting that those who were pardoned had expressed remorse and served their communities in meaningful ways.

“Today, I am exercising my clemency power to pardon 5 individuals and commute the sentences of two individuals who have demonstrated remorse, rehabilitation and redemption. These clemency recipients have each made significant contributions to improving their communities.”

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Who is Kemba Smith Pradia?

Kemba Smith was born on Aug. 28, 1971, in Glen Allen, Virginia. By the time she was at Hampton University, she was facing multiple issues at a personal level that eventually led to dropping out of school and being involved in an abusive relationship with a drug dealer boyfriend.

In 1994, she received her sentence of 24.5 years in federal prison for drug-related offenses. She was not a drug dealer, did not use drugs, and was thus a nonviolent offender.

President Bill Clinton commuted her sentence in December 2000 after she’d already served six years, following a huge public outcry on behalf of her case.

Kemba Smith Pradia's case caught national attention because of the harsh realities of federal sentencing laws, especially for first-time non-violent offenders.

Kemba became an active voice for criminal justice reform after her release. She founded the Kemba Smith Foundation, which addresses issues including drug abuse, violence, and the impact of incarceration on families.

After the incident, she started advocating through speaking engagements to share her story and raise awareness about the flaws in the criminal justice system in many other organizations and institutions.

In addition to working on the Virginia Parole Board, Kemba has also served as the State Advocacy Campaigns Director for the ACLU of Virginia, among other experiences.

For her tireless work trying to bring social justice, she has managed to win numerous awards.

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Kemba Smith Pradia's incarceration

Kemba was sentenced to 24.5 years in federal prison in 1994 for her involvement in a drug-related case stemming from her relationship with a drug dealer. Despite being a first-time offender with no history of drug use or sale, she was found guilty under mandatory minimum sentencing laws.

Her conviction stemmed from low-level participation in a violent cocaine trade run by her boyfriend, who had drawn her into the drug world and coerced her into taking on the role of "drug mule."

Kemba's case occurred at a very dark time in American history when the criminal justice system began to focus specifically on Black women with drug-related charges. According to a 1995 report published by The Sentencing Project titled "Young Black Americans and the Criminal Justice System: Five Years Later," the imprisonment of Black women for drug-related crimes rose 828% from 1986 to 1991.

This dramatic jump brought to light systemic problems within the justice system, such as racial sentencing and the whole issue with the War on Drugs.