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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.
A Community Thrives awards $55,000 in grants to Middle Tennessee nonprofits Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean
A Community Thrives: Nashville nonprofit can plan, not just dream for the future of LGBTQ homeless youth
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Twelve Middle Tennessee nonprofit organizations received a total of $55,000 in grants from A Community Thrives, a grantmaking and crowd-funding program from the USA TODAY Network.
The twelve Middle Tennessee organizations were recipients of local operating grants, which ranged from $2,500 to $10,000. Nationwide, 180 local operating grants ranging from $2,500 to $35,000 were awarded.
The merit-based grants were awarded to organizations serving local people to support general operating expenses. The organizations had to demonstrate local community building and meet crowd-sourced fundraising goals.
Nashville bail bond rule blocked as unconstitutional chron.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chron.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Nashville bail fund wins federal suit aimed at helping poor people get out of jail Mariah Timms, Nashville Tennessean
Nashville courts will end a bail-holding practice that violated the Eighth Amendment, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
The nonprofit Nashville Community Bail Fund sued Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry earlier this year over a longstanding rule that required defendants and their families to agree that money posted to ensure a release from jail could be held and seized as payment of court fees that have not yet been set.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee filed a suit in federal court on behalf of the bail fund in February.