Eugenia JenningsSentence: 21 years, 10 months
Offense: Distribution of 13.9 grams of cocaine base
Priors: Delivery of a controlled substance (1995, 1996); operating an uninsured motor vehicle (1995); illegal transportation of alcohol (1999)
Year sentenced: 2001
Age at sentencing: 23
Projected release date: June 28, 2019
Nature of priors: When Eugenia was 18, she sold 1.5 grams of crack near a public housing project. Soon after, she sold less than one gram of crack. Eugenia pled guilty to both charges in 1997 and served 2 ½ years in state prison.
Eugenia grew up in Alton, Illinois just north of St. Louis, Missouri. Her childhood was filled with sexual and physical abuse at the hands of family members and friends. She was also exposed to drugs at a young age. Eugenia began using alcohol and marijuana at age 13 and became instantly addicted when she tried crack two years later. After becoming pregnant at age 16, Eugenia swore off drugs and alcohol and resolved to provide a better life for her daughter. She secured an apartment in the public housing projects. She gave birth to her son shortly after. Eugenia, young and desperate for money, turned to selling drugs to support herself and her children.
During her incarceration in 1997, Eugenia sought treatment for her drug addiction. She was able to remain sober and began to deal with her childhood trauma. Eugenia was committed to staying drug-free after her release in March 1999, but eventually relapsed. She stayed away from crack but used powder cocaine, marijuana, and consumed large amounts of liquor and beer on a daily basis.
Eugenia had been addicted to drugs for nearly ten years and sold and bartered drugs to support her addiction. In February 2000, an acquaintance of Eugenia’s who was a confidential informant (CI) approached her about buying crack and set up two controlled buys. On February 19, Eugenia gave 1.3 grams of crack to the CI in exchange for clothing. On February 24, the CI bought 12.6 grams of crack for clothing. Eugenia was arrested and held accountable for a total of 13.9 grams of cocaine base.
Eugenia’s sentence was enhanced dramatically because of her two prior drug offenses. Though her priors were nonviolent and involved very small amounts of crack, Eugenia was classified as a career offender. Judge Patrick Murphy was dismayed at the enhanced sentencing guidelines range of 262-327 months he was forced to impose on Eugenia. He gave her the shortest sentence possible, stating:
"[T]he low end of the guidelines…that’s still an awful, awful long time…a woman in prison for over 20 years for a relatively small amount of crack cocaine. Congress has already made that decision…. [Eugenia’s life] is just a life of tragedy, abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, abandonment, that’s about as grim a story as I’ve ever read. In reality what is at the bottom of our drug laws is this: When people become just too much trouble, we quit fooling with ‘em and we warehouse ‘em. That’s how we take care of the problem…But the truth of the matter is it’s not in my hands. This is not a sentence that I am happy with."
Since her incarceration, Eugenia has been a model employee and ambitious student. She has completed Business Education, Electrician Certification, and is teaching a crocheting class to other prisoners. Eugenia has completed an intensive one-year drug treatment program and is now proudly sober. Eugenia has been named employee of the month at UNICOR and was selected to participate in the Youth Awareness Program where she speaks to local youth about the dangers of drugs. Unfortunately, Eugenia’s mother is very ill and cannot bring Eugenia’s children, now ten, 13, and 14, to visit her. Although Eugenia has only been able to see her family once in the past seven years, she maintains a close relationship with her children through letters.