There has been a new development in the case of Cyntoia Brown, who at the age of 16 was convicted of murder.
After renewed interest in her case received international attention, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has made a dramatic announcement that means freedom for Brown.
In a statement released today, Jan. 7, 2019, by the Office of the Governor says in part, “Cyntoia Brown committed, by her own admission, a horrific crime at the age of 16. Yet, imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms. Brown has taken to rebuild her life. Transformation should be accompanied by hope. So, I am commuting Ms. Brown’s sentence, subject to certain conditions.”
Brown will be released from prison on Aug. 7, 2019, under supervised parole. She will have to attend court-ordered counseling sessions and work a minimum of 50 hours community service, with emphasis on at-risk-youth. She will also be required to have gainful employment while on parole.
Lawyers for Brown released the following statement from their client:
“Thank you, Governor Haslam, for your act of mercy in giving me a second chance. I will do everything I can to justify your faith in me. I want to thank those at the Tennessee Department of Corrections who saw something in me worth salvaging, especially Ms. Connie Seabrooks for allowing me to participate in the Lipscomb LIFE Program. It changed my life.
“I am also grateful to those at the Tennessee Department of Corrections who will work with me over the next several months to help me in the transition from prison to the free world. Thank you to Dr. Richard Goode and Dr. Kate Watkins and all of you at Lipscomb University for opening up a whole new world for me. I have one course left to finish my bachelor’s degree, which I will complete in May 2019.”
