Adnan Syed Officially Free After Judge Reduces Sentence

The 'Serial' podcast subject's sentence was reduced to time served under Maryland's Juvenile Restoration Act, though his conviction remains intact.

Adnan Syed, convicted of the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, was released after serving over 20 years in prison following a judge's decision to reduce his sentence to time served.
The decision was made under Maryland’s Juvenile Restoration Act, which allows for sentence reductions for crimes committed as minors; Syed was 17 at the time of Lee’s death.
Baltimore Circuit Judge Jennifer Schiffer ruled that Syed no longer poses a danger to the public and that reducing his sentence serves the interests of justice.
Prosecutors previously withdrew a motion to vacate Syed’s conviction, citing concerns over false and misleading information in earlier filings, leaving his conviction legally intact despite his release.
The case, which gained national attention through the 'Serial' podcast, continues to divide opinion, with Lee’s family opposing the reduction and Syed maintaining his innocence.