Richmond native Kemba Smith receives pardon from President Joe Biden

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond native Kemba Smith received a pardon from United States President Joe Biden on Sunday. On Sunday, Jan. 19, Biden announced that he used his clemency power to pardon Richmond native and criminal justice advocate Kemba Smith Pradia, who was previously convicted of a non-violent drug offense in 1994 and was sentenced to 24 years in prison. According to the White House, Smith's sentence was commuted by then-President Bill Clinton in 2000. KEMBA movie poster Since her release, Smith has been outspoken on issues related to criminal justice, domestic violence, women's empowerment and racial equity through her nonprofit foundation. Smith has also reportedly worked with nationally-recognized civil rights and criminal justice organizations, and has testified before Congress and the United Nations. According to the White House, Smith was appointed to the Virginia Sentencing Commission and Virginia Parole Board. Smith's story has also been turned into a film titled "KEMBA," which is available to watch on BET+