Summary Of The Cyntoia Brown Juvenile Justice Case

Teagan Farmer

Ms. DeLong

Practical Law

7 February 2018

Cyntoia Brown Juvenile Justice Case

Cyntoia Brown was just a sixteen year old girl when her life suddenly came spiraling out of control. “According to years of local media reports, a 2011 documentary about her case and court documents detailing Brown’s own testimony and that of a juvenile psychiatrist, Brown suffered from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, grew up in an abusive home and had ran away from her adoptive parents’ house prior to becoming involved in prostitution in Nashville” (Willingham, 2017). According to Brown, the “victim,” Johnny Allan, picked up her up at the local Sonic and drove her back to his house after hiring her as a prostitute. She claims there was gun cabinet in the bedroom

After the preliminary hearing, it was decided that Cyntoia Brown, based off of all of the evidence, would be tried as an adult. Cyntoia went to a trial that lasted five days in fear of the word “guilty” (V, 2017). “During her trial, the prosecution argued that the motive for the killing was not self-defense, as Brown claimed, but rather robbery, since Brown took Allan’s wallet and shot him. She was tried as an adult [and after the jury deliberated for six hours,]

The convictions carried concurrent life sentences and eight additional years” (Willingham, 2017). Cyntoia Brown, now having been in prison for thirteen years, is continuing to better herself despite the circumstances surrounding her. Brown’s advocates told the Times that she has been a model inmate, earning a G.E.D. and an associate degree over her thirteen years behind bars. Brown, now 28, is also reportedly aiming for a bachelor of arts by next year (Barron, 2017). Although she is attempting to make something of herself, there are many ways this sentencing will impact her life forever. Brown is not eligible for parole until she is 69 (Raphelson, 2017). She will not have the opportunity for a public education, finding a husband or creating a family. She will never be able to prove if she could have overcome the lifestyle that she grew up in. I do not think that the level of justice in this situation was fair. Brown suffered many traumas through her adolescent years from fetal alcohol syndrome to predatory sex-trafficking. She was