Sara J. Kruzan is now 37 years old. Google and Youtube her story, but a few headlines; Sara grew up in a chaotic environment,surrounded by abuse and drugs. She was continuously abused and molested throughout her childhood. At 11 she was raped. At 13 she was gangraped, and forced into child sex trafficking throughout California. Her trafficker was 20 years older than Sara . At 16, under threats that her mother would be killed if Sara didn't comply with orders, she finally broke down, and shot her trafficker,her abuser, while he was getting ready to rape her once more! Sara's defence attorney called no witnesses during her 2 day trial. Sara was sentenced at 17, to Life without the possibility of parole! The judge later admitted in letters to the courts, that grave mistakes were made by him during the trial. Sara spent the next 19 years incarcerated. Convinced that she would die in prison, she still became a 'model inmate' helping other inmates, facilitating classes in prison, mentoring hundreds of students through letters, and creating a 'self help' programme that the CA parole board later found extremely impressive. Sara, through working long hours,every day while incarcerated, also paid off every cent of her 10.000 dollar fine to Victims Services.
Through a tiredless effort by her pro-bono team of lawyers, and public campaigning - but most of all, Sara's own efforts and impeccable behaviour, all parties, from the procecutors office, to the CA Supreme court and the then Governor, agreed that Sara's sentence was excessive. And that she deserved a parole hearing. That parole hearing took place in June 2013. All parties agreed, that society would be much better off, by finally letting Sara come home! Sara was paroled in October 2013. Since then, she has continued where she left off while incarcerated. She has been honored by The Berkeley Law school in CA, and by the Washington DC based,Campaign for the fair sentencing of Youth. She has given keynote speeches from coast to coast and continues to work for a more just Juvenile justice system. Just this month, Sara will speak in Utah, Washington DC,NJ,TX and be interviewed on ABC. She has mentored a highschool basketball team. She continues advocating for victims of child sex trafficking, volunteering and helping raise awareness on the horrible collateral damage that takes place, on juveniles within the prison system in California.
Sara has also become the mother of a wonderful little daughter.
Now.....it's time for Sara to finally gain the freedom that you and I take for granted every day. Which is, not having to bear all the restrictions that continued parole puts on her! Sara's current restrictions have her on a 5 years to Life, parole. That means restrictions on where she can go, when she has to report for meetings, where she can apply for a job, etc etc. This could be for life. That is wrong and unjust.
Sara was a victim of abuse and injustice. She has put all that behind her and has for many years now proved, that she means it when she says, that she wants to better our society. Help our children avoid living the life that she was forced into as a child. She is doing just that, as we speak! Please, join me in this petition and ask Governor Jerry Brown of California, to finally grant her the pardon that she so much deserves. To let her off of all the restrictions, that being on parole puts on her. Please sign this petition. Help Sara gain her full freedom. The Governor of California will hear your voice.
https://www.change.org/p/jerry-brown-pardon-for-sara-kruzan?recruiter=431964&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
No comments:
Post a Comment