Sex-trafficking victim Cyntoia Brown's 51-year prison sentence exposes holes in the justice system
In Tennessee alone, more than 180 people are serving life without parole for crimes committed as a child.
KAY WICKER
DEC 12, 2018, 8:00 AM
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Cyntoia Brown, a sex-trafficking victim who was convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated robbery when she was 16 years old, must serve 51 years in prison before she is eligible for parole.
Brown was convicted in 2006 for the murder of 43-year-old Johnny Allen, a man who had hired her as a sex worker when she was a teenager. After Allen drove Brown to his home, she allegedly resisted his advances. At one point, Brown claimed she thought Allen was reaching for a gun to kill her and pulled a gun out of her bag instead, shooting and killing him.
Prosecutors claimed Brown had gone with Allen in order to rob him. Her lawyers argued that Brown, a runaway who had been raped, abused, and forced into prostitution by a man named “Kut Throat,” was acting out of self defense.
Brown was subsequently charged with one count of first degree premeditated murder, one count of first degree felony murder, and one count of “especially aggravated robbery.” She was tried as an adult and convicted two years later.
Brown’s story is not unique. In her home state of Tennessee, she’s one of at least 183 people serving life without parole for crimes committed as a child. It is estimated that there are around 2,100 people serving out sentences without parole for crimes committed as juveniles nationwide, according to The Sentencing Project, a D.C.-based nonprofit that advocates for a fair and effective criminal justice system.
https://thinkprogress.org/sex-trafficking-victim-cyntoia-browns-51-year-prison-sentence-similar-cases/
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Since Brown was convicted, thirty-four states have passed safe harbor laws, which prevent children caught up in sex-trafficking from being charged for any crimes committed that were tied to their experience. Though Brown will not benefit from such a law, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has said his office is currently reviewing her case and is considering whether to grant her clemency.
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Response to WhiskeyGrinder (Reply #4)
Just saying....
