Brock Turner sexually assaulted Chanel Miller in January 2015 near Stanford University, physically attacking her while she was intoxicated and unconscious behind a dumpster. A forensic exam and cell phone evidence linked Turner to the assault, which he denied at trial. In March 2016, an unsworn statement by Miller was read in court, describing the trauma of the assault and critiquing Turner’s lack of accountability. The case drew national attention and became a focal point for discussions about campus sexual assault, privileged sentencing, and survivor advocacy. This explainer outlines what happened, how the case resolved, and the enduring impact on victims’ voices and public understanding.
