Standing in Solidarity with Survivors: A Response to the Chrystul Kizer Case
Recently, Chrystul Kizer of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for shooting her trafficker, who had been sexually abusing her since she was 16 years old. When Chrystul was arrested for her trafficker’s murder in 2018, her bail was originally set at $1 million. In 2020, her bail was lowered to $400,000, which was paid for by community donations and activist groups. She was released after spending nearly 2 years in jail. In January 2024, Chrystul faced new charges when she failed to appear in court for a mandatory check-in. In February, she was taken into custody for leaving the state, violating the conditions of her bail.
These infractions, while troubling, obscure a far more problematic issue: Chrystul should have never been charged or subjected to supervised release as a crime victim. The focus on procedural violations takes away from the injustice of her initial prosecution, which overlooks the trauma she endured and the systemic failures that continue to penalize trafficking victims rather than protecting them.
Chrystul’s defense team argued that she was immune from prosecution under a 2008 statute signed by the then-Governor Jim Doyle, which absolves sex trafficking victims from any offense committed as a direct result of being trafficked. However, the prosecution claimed that her actions were premeditated. The Kenosha County judge ruled that she could not assert immunity, holding the law cannot be extended to cover homicide.
As a survivor-centered organization dedicated to the prevention of child sex trafficking and exploitation, PACT stands in solidarity with survivors of human trafficking and highlights these critical issues:
The criminal justice system must recognize the profound effects of sexual exploitation and provide compassionate treatment for survivors.
Trafficking results from a power imbalance between trafficker and victim. The trauma inflicted is deep and enduring, often resulting in PTSD, anxiety, and dissociation. The experience instills in survivors fear and distrust of those in positions of power and the criminal justice system. This is why trauma-informed prosecution is essential. While the District Attorney did not recommend a specific sentence for Chrystul, we question whether the full scope of her trauma was adequately understood or considered in this case.
Greater reform is needed to strengthen protections for survivors.
The incarceration of a victim of child sex trafficking underscores the need for further reforms to protect survivors. This decision not only affects Chrystul, but sends a troubling message to all trafficking survivors: that defending themselves can lead to further punishment by the justice system. Many survivors have already faced criminal charges for actions caused by their exploitation. Gaining the cooperation of survivors is already a challenge given their distrust of law enforcement agencies, but this decision deepens their fear of the system, making them concerned about being treated as criminals, and further deterring them from participating in the process.
There remains substantial progress to be made in protecting survivors of human trafficking. As of 2024, more than half of U.S. states have adopted Safe Harbor laws to protect survivors of human trafficking. In addition, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 was the first federal law to address both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, adopting a three-part approach that includes prevention, protection, and protection. While a Safe Harbor bill was previously introduced in Wisconsin, it never gained approval by the full Legislature.
Despite federal and state efforts, gaps remain in addressing survivors’ needs. We must continue to advocate for laws and compassionate, trauma-informed approaches within the criminal justice system that protect survivors and acknowledge their trauma, as well as reforms that prioritize the well-being and rights of survivors, including comprehensive aftercare and the support that they need to recover. Only by addressing these gaps, can we ensure that survivors receive the justice, protection, and support they deserve.