Cyntoia Brown, a sex-trafficking victim who was sentenced to life in prison for a murder committed when she was 16, was granted clemency on Monday, Jan. 7, finally closing out a high profile, controversial case.
In 2004, a teenage Brown was arrested, and in 2006, was convicted for shooting and killing a man who paid her for sex. Her case garnered national attention because in the years since her conviction, activists, criminal justice groups, and advocates for victims of sexual violence argued that Brown was unfairly sentenced, saying that the court had not fully acknowledged her story of being sexually abused or her claims of shooting the man in self-defense.
Brown’s story quickly became a symbol of a number of issues, from juveniles receiving life sentences, to the criminalization of women doing sex work. Moreover, she became a symbol of the justice system’s failures when dealing with women affected by sexual violence.
In a statement released Monday morning, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced that Brown’s sentence will be commuted and she will be released from prison in August. Haslam noted in his statement that Brown had taken steps to change her life, including getting a GED and working toward a college degree, during her time behind bars.
“Transformation should be accompanied by hope,” Haslam said. “So, I am commuting Ms. Brown’s sentence, subject to certain conditions.”
The Tennessean, a local news outlet, further reported that Brown will be required to stay on parole for 10 years and will also have to do community service, undergo counseling, and find a job.
By: Maytinee Kramer
