Kalief Browder 1993-2015

Kalief Browder was just 16 years old when he was arrested in 2010. The following three years of his life were spent on Rikers Island, and during two of those years, he was subjected to solitary confinement. In addition to this, Kalief faced abuse from both officers and inmates.

Kalief attempted to take his life several times, once while he was in Rikers Island, and again in the months following his release in 2013. After his release, he faced struggles with mental health, but he put in the effort to pursue an education at Bronx Community College, as well as taking classes in preparation for his G.E.D.. 

In 2015, Kalief’s mental health continued to suffer, and he tragically committed suicide at age 22. Prison was in no way rehabilitative for Kalief, it was a source of trauma and pain that nobody deserves to experience. His story shows that there is much work that needs to be done for our youth systemically to prevent similar situations, as well as in terms of provision of resources following release. 

When Cyntoia Brown-Long was 16, she was a victim of sex trafficking, as well as trapped in an abusive relationship and forced into prostitution by her partner. She was charged with aggravated robbery and first-degree murder after the death of a 43-year-old man who had picked her up for sex. She had killed him on the belief that he was going to harm her.

Cyntoia, still only 16, was given a life sentence. However, despite the unjust circumstances, Cyntoia did not let despair get to her. While she was serving, she obtained both her GED and bachelor’s, as well as taking on the role of mentor for at-risk youth. 

She was released 15 years later at the age of 31, but it still leaves questions unanswered. How could the justice system give a 16-year-old a life sentence? It sets the harmful precedent that people cannot change, characterizing them off on one action, one they made at a young age no less. Convictions should not be made without consideration for the circumstances an individual is in. 

In 1994, Sara Kruzan, 16 years old, killed a man who had sexually trafficked her. She faced sexual abuse from the man since she was 11, along with being groomed for sex work. When she was 17, Sara was convicted of the crime and was thus sentenced to life in prison. It is important to note that she was also tried as an adult.

Sara’s term was then changed to 25 years by the governor at the time, but she still undeservedly spent almost two decades behind bars. She was granted pardon in 2022, being recognized by the present governor for her dedication to transforming her life and community service. 

With Sara’s case, we can see that she was not given any mercy or grace concerning the circumstances. There was no consideration of the fact that she was forced into circumstances against her control that led her to do what she did. Not only that, but the system needs to be better in repairing the damages it causes mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to those who are incarcerated and following their release. 

In South Carolina, 1944, two young white girls briefly approached George Stinney Jr while he and his sister were in his yard, only to ask him a quick question. When the girls didn’t return home, a search party was conducted that George partook in, and the next morning they were both found dead. 

Following this, George was immediately arrested for their murder, being interrogated without either his parents or a legal attorney. Without any written proof or even a statement, the sheriff claimed that George had confessed to being the perpetrator. His trial was set against him from the start, with his attorney not calling any witnesses, and the only piece of evidence being the sheriff’s word that George confessed. The all-white jury convicted George on charges of both rape and murder, and he was subsequently sentenced to death.

George was just a 14-year-old boy when he sat in the electric chair. Nothing was done to prevent this from happening. Everyone in that court had failed him. The justice system had failed him.