224: How the DVSJA Gave Two Survivors of Domestic Violence a Second Chance w/Assia Serrano and Trinity Copeland
Today, Hunter concludes the three-part series on criminalized domestic violence survivors by speaking with two women who survived, endured years of incarceration, and utilized the DVSJA to get a second chance at life. Trinity Copeland was sentenced to 25 years to life for 2nd degree murder and resentenced to time served and released in March 2023 under the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA), after serving approximately 11 years. She is currently a full-time college student majoring in Chinese Studies with a double minor in Spanish and French.
Assia Serrano was sentenced to 18 years to life for felony murder and was resentenced and released in April 2021 under the DVSJA, after serving 17 years. Shortly after, she was deported to Panama where she currently resides. Assia is a member of the Survivors Justice Project Advisory Group and an Osborne Speakers Bureau member who uses her personal experiences to advocate for criminal justice reform. She is a proud mother of two teenagers and a fierce advocate for her own and other children who have experienced parental incarceration.
Through their stories, Hunter hopes for people to understand what our legal system must change to stop perpetuating cycles of harm.