Cyntoia Brown Granted Clemency After Spending 15 Years in Prison

Cyntoia Brown has been granted clemency, said the Tennessee’s Governor’s office.

She was serving a life sentence for killing a man who bought her for sex when she was 16 years old.

Cyntoia Brown Granted Clemency

Brown, 30, will be released to parole supervision on August 7 after serving 15 years in prison, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s office said in a statement.

“This decision comes after careful consideration of what is a tragic and complex case,” Haslam said.

“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.”

Her case

Brown’s case drew the attention of several high-profile advocates including A-List celebrities, a US congressman, and several Tennessee lawmakers. Reality star Kim Kardashian West and actress Ashley Judd were a number of those who advocated for her release.