Photo: Orange County Police Department

A 26-year-old Black woman with special needs was sentenced for a petty theft of goods from Target, sparking renewed calls for criminal justice reform.

Imarah Aaliyah Bryan , 26, was initially arrested in May for allegedly stealing under $200 worth of items from a Target store in Orlando, Florida. Bryan was jailed for roughly 50 days before appearing in court this month to accept a no-contest plea, which allows defendants to avoid trial without admitting guilt while still accepting punishment.

Despite her diagnosis and apparent cognitive challenges, Bryan was ordered to pay $339 in restitution to the police department, $500 for bond, and was banned from returning to the Target where the alleged theft occurred.

Video from the court hearing shared on

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