(2010-0452-F) Kemba Smith

Approximately 9 folders, 733 pages

This collection contains material regarding President Clinton’s granting clemency for Kemba Smith in December 2000. Smith’s case exemplified the enforcement of mandatory sentencing laws for minor drug convictions. This collection primarily contains correspondence and media publications in support of Smith’s release.

The materials in FOIA 2010-0452-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. This collection contains material regarding the pardon of Kemba Smith. In 1994, Smith was sentenced to 24.5 years in federal prison for activities as a first time non-violent drug offender. Smith’s case exemplified the enforcement of mandatory sentencing laws for minor drug convictions. President Clinton granted her clemency on December 22, 2000. This collection primarily contains correspondence and media publications in support of Smith’s release.

Textual

Records that are responsive to this FOIA request were found in these collection areas -- Clinton Presidential Records: White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject Files and White House Staff and Office Files. The White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) contains a variety of series created to organize and track documents and correspondence. The WHORM Subject file was compiled by the White House Office of Records Management and is a series of categories designated by a letter/number combination. Staff and Office files were maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity. WHORM files are processed at the document level; whereas, Staff and Office files are processed at the folder level, that is, individual documents are not selected and removed from a folder for processing. While this method maintains folder integrity, it frequently results in the incidental processing of documents that are not wholly responsive to the subject area. FOIA 2010-0452-F included WHORM records from these subject codes: JL001 Amnesty – Clemency - Pardons.

Collection is open to all researchers. Access to Clinton Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 USC 2201) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 USC 552, as amended) and therefore may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions.

Official records of William Jefferson Clinton’s presidency are housed at the Clinton Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA).

Staff Archivist, 2010. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released.

The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2010-0452-F.
Box 1
Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM: Subject File
Category Case Number
[JL001] 424781
[JL001] 427764
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Counsel’s Office
Lindsey, Bruce
Kemba Smith [1] [OA/ID 20650]
Kemba Smith [2] [OA/ID 20650]
Kemba Smith – Pardons / Clemency Requests : Kemba Smith [1] [OA/ID 20650]
Kemba Smith – Pardons / Clemency Requests : Kemba Smith [2] [OA/ID 20650]
Public Liason
 Kemba Smith Case [OA/ID 13340]
 Kemba Smith Letters [1] [OA/ID 13162]