Cyntoia Brown will be released From jail in 2019 after fighting years for her freedom. Cyntoia Brown a teen at the time, was jailed for putting up a fight and protecting herself against a sex trafficking ring. Cyntoia ended up killing the offendor through self defense. However her defense cry was not recognized in the American system and instead of them sending a teen to counseling they sent her to prison.
As a teen she was approached by a pimp by the name of “Cut Throat”. He snatched her off the streets and took her to be beaten and raped by many me. He then sold her to a 43 year old child predator who took her into his home to use her for sex.
In 2017, media outraged spurred at the sentencing of Cyntoia Brown, and celebrity stars like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian spoke out on her behalf. Kim Kardashian went as far to contact her own attorneys to see what could be done for Cyntoia Brown. By June of 2018, Cyntoia Brown was set to make her case in Federal court.
Brown has testified that she was a survivor of abuse from when she was growing up, and her attorneys showed evidence that she suffered from physical, sexual, and verbal abuse and had been beaten, choked, raped, and threatened at gunpoint.
The 30-year-old is currently serving a 51 years to life sentence for killing the man who allegedly offered to buy her for sex when she was 16 years old. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is the one who ordered Brown’s early release, the Tennessean reported on Monday.
“This decision comes after careful consideration of what is a tragic and complex case,” Haslam said in a statement, according to CNN. “Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16. Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms. Brown has taken to rebuild her life. Transformation should be accompanied by hope.”
Just a month ago, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that Brown must serve 51 years total — until she turns 69 — before becoming eligible for release, Rolling Stone reported in early December. Her release comes as a surprise. According to The New York Times Cyntoia Brown will be released on Aug 7., and she will be on supervised parole for 10 years.
Brown released a statement.
“you, Governor Haslam, for your act of mercy in giving me a second chance. I will do everything I can to justify your faith in me,” Brown wrote. She also thanked those at the Tennessee Department of Corrections, her professors at Lipscomb University, where she is working towards her Bachelor’s degree (she says she is one course away from graduating in May 2019), her family, her lawyers, and everyone who has supported her.
“I am thankful for all the support, prayers, and encouragement I have received,” Brown also said, as per Complex, adding that she wants to dedicate her life to keeping others from similar situations. “With God’s help, I am committed to live the rest of my life helping others, especially young people,” Brown continued. “My hope is to help other young girls avoid ending up where I have been.”
