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Kim Kardashian West is releasing a documentary on her work in criminal justice reform, and the trailer is heart-wrenching

Caroline Goldstein

Some more proof that Kim Kardashian West is so much more than a reality TV star. On January 18th, Oxygen released a trailer for Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project, a two-hour documentary set to debut on April 5th. The documentary follows Kardashian West as she speaks with prison inmates, lobbies public officials, and works with a team of lawyers to reduce the sentences of four inmates, whom they believe were unfairly sentenced.

Kardashian West made headlines last year for aiding the release of Alice Marie Johnson, who had received a life sentence without parole for a first-time, non-violent drug offense. Johnson had already served 21 years in prison when Kardashian West pled Johnson’s case to Donald Trump, who commuted her sentence. According to CNN, Kardashian West’s support for The Decarceration Collective was also “instrumental” in freeing 17 inmates who, like Johnson, were serving life sentences for first-time, non-violent offenses.

After that, Kardashian West announced her plans to become a lawyer—a decision that was inspired by her experience working with a team of attorneys on Johnson’s case.

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For the last year, I have immersed myself in learning about the criminal justice system. I visited prisons, met with formerly incarcerated people, and helped with cases of individual injustice - including two death penalty cases. I have met with and am very supportive of Governor Newsom and his decision to help bring an end to the California Death Penalty. Racial bias and unfairness run deep throughout the justice system but especially when it comes to the death penalty. And we should not be okay with the risk that an innocent person could be executed. I hope we can turn toward better solutions that focus more on healing victims of trauma and prioritizing fairness and justice.

A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Mar 16, 2019 at 9:37pm PDT

In the trailer for The Justice Project, Kardashian West says she received letters from other inmates serving life sentences after her work on Johnson’s case became public. Through those letters, she learned that many of these people “[made] bad choices after a lifetime of trauma.” That set Kardashian West on a path to help enact widespread prison reform, which started with visiting inmates in person and hearing their stories firsthand.

“I went into this knowing nothing,” Kardashian West says, “and then my heart completely opened up…People deserve a second chance.”

For any doubters out there, Kardashian West made it very clear that her choice to become an advocate for criminal justice was not for publicity; rather, much of her choice was motivated by being a mother.

“I’m raising four Black children that could face a situation like any of the people that I help,” she told reporters at the Television Critics Association on Saturday, January 18th. “Just to know I can make a difference in my children’s lives and (others) by helping fix a broken system, that’s so motivating for me.”

Kardashian West is planning to take the bar exam in 2022. But if this documentary is any indication, she’ll make real strides in advocating for criminal justice even before she gets her degree.