Kim Kardashian West’s life was changed forever when the cast of Alice Marie Johnson was brought to her attention, and she began a fight to free her.
The pair’s work together has formed the basis of Kim’s new one-off special, Kim Kardashian-West: The Justice Project, which focuses on criminal justice reform of cases such as Alice’s.
So where is Alice now? What was she in prison for and how exactly was Kim involved in her release?
Here’s what we know about her…
What was Alice Johnson convicted of?
Alice Marie Johnson, a mother of five, was arrested in 1993 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1996 for her connection to a cocaine trafficking ring in Memphis, Tennessee.
At the time, Alice was used as a ‘phone mule’, which was essentially a secretary. Drug dealers would call her, and she would put them through to someone else, as a means to avoid suspicion and tracking of their phone calls and connections.
She maintains she never saw or was connected to the drugs besides this, and had no prior convictions.
At the time, Alice had just lost her son in a motorbike accident, had got divorced, and had to look after her children. She had declared bankruptcy in 1991 and her house had been foreclosed on.
In the documentary, Alice said: ‘I’m not saying that I didn’t deserve some time. But a life plus 25 years, for a first time, non-violent offender?
‘It seems like everyone gasped at the same time. I couldn’t even look at my children.’
When was Alice Johnson released and how was Kim involved?
Support for Alice and getting her release grew online over the past decade, stating that it was unfair for her to be given life without parole for her crime.
The case and online campaign eventually caught the attention of Kim Kardashian-West, who voiced her support and then reached out to the lawyers of the case.
Eventually, she joined forces with Jared Kushner to meet with President Donald Trump to plea for her release in 2018, after other avenues had failed.
Johnson was granted clemency by President Trump just over a week later, and was finally released, 21 years after her initial conviction, on 6 June, 2018.
Kim was allowed to break the news to her, and the phone call was recorded by reality show cameras tracking Kim at the time.
What is Alice Johnson doing now?
Alice Johnson is now an advocate for criminal justice reform, and specifically mandatory sentencing rules.
She has also spoken with Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee to discuss her worries about the rules that allow criminals out on bail for cash.
Other efforts and initiatives spear-headed by Johnson include the promotion of better education within the criminal system, in order to help those adjust to a life outside of prison walls and more successful reentry into normal society.
She is also now a grandmother and great-grandmother.
What is Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project about and when is it on in the UK?
The Justice Project follows Kim Kardashian’s efforts to aid criminal justice reform, starting with her work with Alice Johnson – who was given a life sentence for a non-violent crime and with no prior convictions.
Over the course of the show, she begins to delve deeper into mandatory sentencing, forming bonds with women and convicted murderers who were forced into lives of crime or their eventual acts.
From speaking to President Trump to rallying what is needed to present a character case to the courts, Kim is seen ultimately helping free multiple prisoners from their sentences, which were deemed to high to fit the crime.
She ultimately started studying to become a lawyer during her work on the cases.
Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project is available from Monday 6 April on streaming service HeyU.
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