Cyntoia Brown has finally, finally been released from prison. Brown served 15 years out of what was originally a life sentence after she was found guilty for killing 43-year-old Johnny Allen when she was just 16. Brown, a survivor of sex slavery, killed Allen in his home after he solicited the teenager for sex.
On his death, Brown stressed that she felt in fear for her life and acted out of self-defense, but was ultimately charged as an adult and convicted of first-degree murder, felony murder, and aggravated robbery. Her life sentence initially came with the eligibility of parole in 2055. Put another way: Under her original sentencing, she would not have been eligible for parole until she was 69. Clearly, that ruling was about as far from justice as you can get.
Brown, who was placed for adoption as a child and later ran away from her adoptive parents, was living with a 24-year-old pimp who forced her into sex work, emotionally and physically abused her, and raped her. This is horrifying, but it’s far from rare. According to a 2017 study from the Vera Institute of Justice, titled, “Overlooked: Women and Jails in an Era of Reform,” 86% of women who have spent time in jail report that they had been sexually assaulted in their lifetimes.
Women who are survivors of sex slavery (also described as sex trafficking) can be particularly vulnerable—they may fear reporting crimes because they’re afraid of being persecuted or retribution if law enforcement fails to actually do anything about the perpetrator they’re reporting. Even people who voluntarily participate in sex work often fear going to the police for these reasons.
But back to Brown’s case, specifically. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that life sentences without parole for juveniles is a violation of the teen’s constitutional rights, which led to appeals from Brown’s lawyers. Brown’s story got national attention in 2011, when a PBS documentary called Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story aired.
It picked up again on social media in 2017, including attention from celebrities like Rihanna and reality TV-star Kim Kardashian West, who hired an additional lawyer to represent Brown. You might remember that community members at Daily Kos also rallied on behalf of Brown, signing petitions to free her from prison.
In January, Tennessee Gov. Republican Bill Haslam granted a full commutation to parole for Brown, making her eligible for release on Aug. 7. "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," Haslam said in a statement in January.
Her release is incredible. It’s a reversal of deep injustice. It’s also important, though, that people remember how hard her life will likely be upon release, largely due to the lack of resources available for people when they are finally freed. Because of systemic barriers, everything from finding a job to voting can be difficult, if not impossible.
"You just have to think about the fact that a 16-year-old who's never had a driver's license, never voted, never had a job would now at age 30 begin that walk outside the prison walls." Charles Bone, Brown’s attorney, said to WBUR on his client’s clemency.
On Monday, Brown gave a statement to The New York Times about her release, saying, “I look forward to using my experiences to help other women and girls suffering abuse and exploitation.”
Per her release, Brown will remain on parole for 10 years. In addition, she’s required to complete at least 50 hours of community service, go to counseling regularly, and find work. Yahoo Lifestyle reports that Brown plans to stay with family while she rebuilds her life.