Nashville Tennessean
A major criminal justice reform initiative pushed for years by advocates has finally passed a significant milestone in Tennessee.
It’s a measure that would offer a life-altering second chance for inmates serving life in prison to prove they have been rehabilitated. Currently, a 1995 state law prohibits life-sentence inmates from having a parole eligibility hearing until after they have served 51 years.
Despite first-degree murder in the state having three possible sentences death, life in prison without parole and life in prison with the possibility of parole the 51-year waiting period for a release hearing is effectively a full life sentence, bipartisan advocates argue.
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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.