In the United States, juveniles can be tried in court as an adult and if convicted, can be sentenced to serve life in prison. To date, there have been 2,270 children sentenced to life in prison. 227 of those children convicted in California, alone.
Meet: Sarah Cruzan. A sixteen-year old prostitute sentenced with life in prison, with no chance of parole.
And let the story begin…Sara was born in Riverside, California, as the daughter of a crack addicted mother that emotionally and physically abused her, became a prostitute at age 11. Her pimp: a 31-year old man named "G.G."
G.G. charmed her and played the role that she was always missing: a parental figure. G.G. drove Sarah and her friends around, took them to the movies, and showered her with lavish gifts. Actions that would make any coming of age pre-teen happy. He took advantage of her adoration of him, by brainwashing her, for two life-changing years, making her think that she was his “special product.” At age 13, G.G. put his plan into action. Sarah became a prostitute; trained to sleep with strangers for money that only G.G. would profit from. She put in twelve-hour shifts, every single day of the calendar, for three long years.
After three LONG years of being subjected to this type of abuse on top of having a rough childhood; Sarah snapped, killing her pimp G.G. Sarah a sixteen year old female is now confined in prison, where she will remain until she takes her last breath.
Sarah, like many people I know, was simply dealt a bad hand. She had the odds stacked against her since her creation. A person with no support, no guidance, no foundation, nor love was placed in this position and forced to deal with it.
Yes, she was wrong. Yes, she committed a crime. Yes, she should be punished.
I agree with all of these statements, BUT what I don’t agree with is, the fact that she has to spend the rest of her natural life in the “concrete jungle” without a twinkle of hope or redemption. Life without a chance of parole, to me, is a little extreme. So many children are overlooked and they slip through the cracks and when their actions mimic their environment, they are condemned for it. Sarah, should at least be given the benefit of the doubt, allowed to start over, to live the life that she never got to live. Her entire life, every person who claimed to love her and guide her, let her down…let her down tremendously. She should pay for her actions, but not with her life. It literally broke my heart and brought tears to my eyes when I watched Sarah’s interview and I heard her say: “This means that I am going to die in prison!” *heart shatters in pieces* She has been paying with her life since she was born....will she ever get a break?? What is a girl to do…when she dealt this type of hand??
Now at age 29, Sarah says she has become the woman she was never given the opportunity to develop into. She is educated, grounded, and redeemed. Please give her a second shot at life!
Real eyes realize!
JUSTICE FOR SARAH!!!
Follow these links for more information on Sarah Kruzan and her case:
http://humantrafficking.change.org/blog/view/teen_trafficking_survivor_gets_life_without_parole
http://atomicnewsreview.org/.../sarah-kruzan-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-at-age-16/
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