At least 95 percent of people behind bars will be released. Some say a formerly incarcerated person’s successful re-entry into society requires more focus on rebuilding an individual and less on punishment. Criminal justice reform efforts also address a victim-centered approach, but some believe that fundamental change might require addressing past trauma of victims as well as the perpetrators of crimes.
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As Republican state Sen. Janice Bowling explained to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, a person in Tennessee who is convicted of first-degree murder faces three possible sentences: life with the possibility of parole, life without the possibility of parole or death. But because of an extraordinarily harsh sentencing law, a person sentenced to life with the possibility of parole is not eligible to even be considered for release until they have served 51 years in prison.
That s double the national average, Bowling told the committee, and means most people facing the sentence will die before they ever get a chance at parole.
Senate Committee Advances Bill to Reform Tennessee s Harsh Life Sentence Law nashvillescene.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nashvillescene.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.