Stoneleigh Fellow Sara Kruzan is featured by KOKH-TV in news about a new bill that will allow Oklahoma courts more discretion over sentencing for survivors of abuse who commit crimes.
Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, authored House Bill 2210 after hearing stories about people like Sara Kruzan, who was 17 when she was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing the man who forced her into sex trafficking when she was 13. Kruzan was tried as an adult and no evidence of the abuse or trauma committed against her was admitted into evidence. Her sentence was commuted in 2013 and she was pardoned in July 2022.
HB2210 states that the abuse by the victim must have occurred within 90 days of the offense and the offender must have been a minor who was convicted as an adult. Under the bill, the court may depart from the mandatory minimum sentence, suspend any portion of the sentence, or transfer the minor to the juvenile division for further proceedings.
