In 2006, a then-16-year-old Rennie Gibbs gave birth to a stillborn baby girl named Samiya who was premature and had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. Because Samiya's autopsy turned up traces of cocaine, Gibbs was indicted for "unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously" causing her death. The maximum sentence is life behind bars.
Using cocaine and exposing a fetus to the drug is reckless and not to be condoned, but it is not the same thing as "willfully" causing a death. There is no evidence that cocaine was the cause of Samiya's death, and several large studies have found no evidence of long-term outcomes between children exposed to cocaine in the womb and those who were not.
Egregious punishments like these are counterproductive. They discourage drug users from seeking prenatal care and conversing honestly with their doctors. Please sign the petition to urge law enforcement not to give Gibbs a life sentence for having a stillborn child!
As you know, in 2006, a then-16-year-old Rennie Gibbs gave birth to a stillborn baby girl named Samiya who was premature and had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. Because Samiya's autopsy turned up traces of cocaine, Gibbs was indicted for "unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously" causing her death. The maximum sentence is life behind bars.
Using cocaine and exposing a fetus to the drug is reckless and not to be condoned, but it is not the same thing as "willfully" causing a death. There is no evidence that cocaine was the cause of Samiya's death, and several large studies have found no evidence of long-term outcomes between children exposed to cocaine in the womb and those who were not.
Egregious punishments like these are counterproductive. They discourage drug users from seeking prenatal care and conversing honestly with their doctors. We respectfully urge you to consider a lighter punishment for Gibbs. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
