Jackson, Mississippi - Governor Tate Reeves made an important announcement this Wednesday, declaring clemency for Maurice Taylor, who has been serving a prison sentence of 20 years, a penalty far beyond the legal maximum for his crime.
This decision comes a few weeks after Maurice's brother, Marcus Taylor, was granted clemency for a similar case, highlighting systemic issues within the penal system regarding excessive sentencing.
The brothers were both involved in a 2015 plea deal where they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell hydrocodone, a Schedule III substance. At the time of their sentencing, the maximum penalty for such a charge was five years, yet Maurice was handed a 20-year sentence with five years suspended, while Marcus received a 15-year sentence. Governor Reeves stated, “Like his brother, Maurice Taylor received a sentence more than three times longer than allowed under Mississippi law. When justice is denied to even one Mississippian, it is denied to us all.”
This recent clemency follows a ruling by the Mississippi Court of Appeals which determined that Marcus's sentence was illegal. After advocacy and public pressure, the court reversed its initial decision and ordered his release.
Following the announcement, the Mississippi Impact Coalition, an organization focused on criminal justice reform, expressed their discontent with the prolonged fight for justice, stating, “This correction should have happened decades ago. It shouldn’t have taken relentless advocacy, public pressure, and the glaring contrast of one twin free while the other remained incarcerated to expose this injustice.”
As of the latest update, Maurice Taylor is expected to be released within five days, marking a significant moment as both brothers prepare to reintegrate into society together.
