The criminalization of sex trafficking survivors, particularly Black girls, remains a persistent and under-examined form of structural injustice within anti-trafficking and the criminal legal system. This presentation draws on the recently published article “Justice Denied: Lessons from the Chrystul Kizer Case,” examining how misogynoir, adultification, and systemic racism shape responses to Black survivors of sex trafficking, often resulting in their treatment as offenders rather than victims. Using the Kizer case as a critical lens, the presenters explore how racialized gender stereotypes, poverty, and institutional failures intersect to deny Black girls recognition, protection, and justice. Although Kizer was trafficked as a minor and acted in self-defense against her trafficker, she was prosecuted and incarcerated, illustrating how legal frameworks frequently fail to account for the realities of coercion, exploitation, and survival responses. The case highlights broader patterns in which Black girls are hyper-sexualized, perceived as more culpable and less innocent, and excluded from victim-centered protections. This presentation situates Kizer’s experience within existing scholarship on trafficking, criminology, and intersectionality and identifies critical implications for public awareness, legal reform, professional training, and survivor-informed practice. The presenters argue that without explicitly addressing misogynoir and adultification bias, anti-trafficking and justice systems will continue to reproduce harm. The session concludes with concrete recommendations for re-imagining criminal legal responses to trafficking, emphasizing trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and survivor-led approaches that move beyond punishment toward equity, healing, and justice for Black survivors.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Rhonelle Bruder is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health and is a Teaching Fellow at Harvard University. Her research examines sex trafficking, survivor criminalization, healthcare responses, and intersectional, survivor-informed approaches to policy and practice.
Dr. Cassandra Mary Frances Young is an Assistant Professor in the Program for Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Denver. Her research focuses on sex trafficking within Black communities, particularly Black women’s and girls’ experiences with the criminal legal system. Her work examines disclosure, victimization, and systemic responses to gender-based violence.