Cyntoia Brown, who spent 15 years in prison for killing a man who she claims solicited her for sex when she was a minor, is finally free.
In 2006, Brown received a life sentence for killing a 43-year-old who she says solicited her while another man was trafficking her. She was 16 years old at the time.
Kim Kardashian West, who helped with the similarly high-profile case of Alice Johnson, enlisted her attorney to help Brown in 2017 after her case went viral and became a flashpoint for criminal justice reform. “The system has failed. It’s heartbreaking to see a young girl sex trafficked then when she has the courage to fight back is jailed for life,” West tweeted at the time.
By January, Brown was granted clemency by Tennessee’s governor, but she didn’t get released until Wednesday. Brown may be a high-profile case, but she is just one of many inmates in the U.S. whose lengthy punishments overshoot their crimes. Now that the face of criminal justice reform is free, she says that she plans to use her platform to help others.
“While first giving honor to God who made all of this possible, I would also like to thank my many supporters who have spoken on my behalf and prayed for me,” Brown said in a statement. “I’m blessed to have a very supportive family and friends to support me in the days to come. I look forward to using my experiences to help other women and girls suffering abuse and exploitation.”
—By Madeline Fry
