Nhut Vo

Nhut, a former member of a Vietnamese street gang who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, found solace and redemption through art during his incarceration. While serving two consecutive life sentences, he turned to creativity as a means of coping and seeking inner freedom. His journey toward self-awareness was deeply intertwined with his artistic expression, and he also began teaching others how to meditate, sharing the tools he used to find peace within himself.

“I felt like I didn’t have any hope after that,” Nhut recalls. “That sentence essentially means you’re going to die in prison.” He spent 15 years in maximum security, yet despite the grim reality of his sentence, Nhut chose to focus on rehabilitation. He reconnected with his Buddhist roots and honed his skills as an artist, using his creativity as a lifeline.

A turning point came when the Supreme Court ruled that sentencing juveniles to life without parole constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment.” This decision opened the door for Nhut’s case to be revisited. The Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic (JIFS) took up his cause, arguing that his original sentence was unjust. Under the precedent set by People v. Chiu, Nhut was resentenced and became eligible for parole in 2015. After being found suitable for release, he was freed in 2020.

Over the years, Nhut’s legal representation included numerous dedicated students and attorneys. Among them were Michael Petersen ’16, now a staff attorney for LPI; Jonathan Bremen ’19, now a staff attorney for the California Supreme Court; Tara Khani ’17, now a Deputy Public Defender in Miami, Florida; and Christina Bazak ’15, now a staff attorney for the Children’s Law Center Los Angeles. The JIFS Clinic, along with Kristen Durkan ’22 and Claire Kennedy ’20, continues to represent him in his revised sentencing action in Orange County Superior Court. At his parole hearing, Claire Kennedy ’20 advocated for him under the supervision of JIFS Staff Attorney Marisa Harris ’17.

Nhut’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and the power of art and compassion to rewrite even the most challenging narratives.