Criminalized for Surviving
The campaign centers on a clemency petition directed at the Governor of Puerto Rico Jennifer González-Colón.
Core Mission:
To secure a sentence commutation for Cristine, who was convicted in the death of her two-month-old baby.
The Narrative:
The campaign argues that Cristine is a survivor of domestic violence who was "wrongfully criminalized" by a system that failed to protect her.
Organizational Support:
The initiative is heavily backed by Women Who Never Give Up, Inc. (WWNG), an organization dedicated to supporting women impacted by the justice system.
Goal:
Beyond Cristine’s individual freedom, the site serves as a platform to "humanize victims of domestic violence" and advocate for broader reform in how the legal system treats survivors.
click the link above to learn more about the 2026 campaign
The 2026 Campaign - Year 9 :
Law 74 Effectively Supports Clemency for Cristine.
I am returning to Puerto Rico to finish what I began: obtaining clemency for Cristine and
using her case as a global blueprint for survivors. As the incoming Volunteer Director of Domestic Violence Programs at Women Who Never GiveUp “WWNG”, I am not just filing for clemency; I am closing a decade-long chapter of advocacy by provingthat the state cannot punish a woman for the state's own failure
The next phase of the movement for Cristine Cortez Rodriguez involves a strategic political push centered on Law 74 of 2023 ( ). This legislation represents a vital tool for survivors of domestic violence in Puerto Rico, and its application is central to the campaign's demand for executive clemency. The Role of Law 74 ( of 2023) Signed into law in July 2023, Law 74 amended Puerto Rico’s Domestic Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act (Act 54).
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Broadening the Definition of Abuse: The law officially recognizes economic violence as a prohibited form of domestic abuse. This includes conduct aimed at undermining a victim's financial stability, housing security, or future economic capacity.
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Expanded Protections: It empowers courts to issue broader protection orders, including those that prevent abusers from interfering with a petitioner’s employment or professional reputation.
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Legal Leverage for Clemency: For Cristine, Law 74 provides the legal framework to argue that her case was shaped by complex layers of abuse—including economic and psychological coercion—that were not adequately recognized by the court at the time of her conviction.
The Political Push for Clemency: Under the leadership of Kayla Gerdes, the movement is preparing to leverage Law 74 to petition Governor Jenniffer González-Colón for immediate action.
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Redefining the Narrative: The campaign will use Law 74 to highlight that Cristine is a victim of systemic failure. By showing how the law now recognizes the very types of abuse she suffered, the team can argue that her conviction is an outdated injustice that the current government has a mandate to correct.
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Legislative and Executive Advocacy: Building on the mentorship of Gale Muhammad (who frequently lobbies the NJ Legislature), Kayla is mobilizing a powerhouse coalition to ensure that Law 74 isn't just a statute on paper but a mechanism for liberation.
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Centering the Survivor: By keeping Maritza at the forefront, the movement ensures that the political push is not just about legal theory, but about the human cost of delaying justice. The goal is to prove that granting clemency to Cristine is the first step in Puerto Rico truly honoring the spirit of Law 74.
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