Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Monday granted executive clemency to Cyntoia Denise Brown by commuting her sentence of life imprisonment. She will be released to parole supervision on Aug. 7, 2019, after serving 15 years in prison.
“This decision comes after careful consideration of what is a tragic and complex case,” Governor Haslam said. “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.”
Ms. Brown’s parole conditions will require that she not violate any state or federal laws, and she will be subject to a release plan approved by the Tennessee Department of Correction and special supervision conditions, including employment, education, counseling, and community engagement requirements. Parole supervision will continue until Aug. 7, 2029, at which point Ms. Brown’s sentence will expire. She will complete re-entry programming prior to her release from custody in August in order to facilitate a successful transition to the community.
In 2006, Ms. Brown was convicted by a Davidson County jury of first-degree murder and aggravated robbery for the 2004 murder of 43-year-old Nashville real estate agent Johnny Allen, which occurred when then-16-year-old Brown was picked up by Allen and taken to his home. She received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 51 years in prison, which means she would not have been eligible for parole consideration until 2055, at the earliest, without the governor’s action.
While in prison, Ms. Brown has earned her GED and completed an associate degree in 2015 through the Lipscomb LIFE program with a 4.0 GPA. It is anticipated that she will complete a bachelor’s degree in 2019. Numerous Department of Correction employees and volunteers attest to her extraordinary personal transformation while incarcerated, which will allow her to be a positive influence on the community upon release.
Earlier this year, the Tennessee Board of Parole issued a positive recommendation to the governor in favor of granting Ms. Brown a commutation.
“While we have spent a considerable amount of time studying and implementing sentencing and criminal justice reform in our state, there is more work to be done,” Governor Haslam said. “I am hopeful serious consideration of additional reforms will continue, especially with respect to the sentencing of juveniles.”
Executive clemency is an act of mercy or leniency by the governor after a criminal conviction. Governor Haslam has previously granted five commutations, 15 pardons, and one exoneration. Governor Haslam continues to review and consider additional clemency requests.
Eric Atkins of the Chattanooga Unity Group said, "The Unity Group joins other civil rights groups, social justice organizations and those advocates that were dedicated to finding a fair and just remedy in this very unfortunate incident, and thankfully a tragedy didn't become a lifelong travesty.
"We trust that after the mitigating factors and extenuating circumstances of this case were weighed, Governor Haslam and those who reviewed this case felt compelled to issue Clemency for Ms.Brown and we applaud him for it. Groups like the Highlander Center and Ash-lee Henderson, ACLU and dozens of other civic groups and dedicated citizen advocates worked tirelessly for many years on this case and their advocating speaks to the power of change when the voices of the masses cry out as one.
"This case is indicative of the work left undone, due process under the law, recognizing the mental illness issues many of us combat on a daily basis, and permanently eradicating the menace that is slavery in the form of trafficking from the face of the Earth once and for all through prescribing to basic and fundamental human rights."
Ms. Brown issued this statement:
“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.
I am thankful for all the support, prayers, and encouragement I have received. We truly serve a God of second chances and new beginnings. The Lord has held my hand this whole time and I would have never made it without Him. Let today be a testament to His Saving Grace.
Thank you to my family for being a backbone these past 14 years.
I am thankful to my lawyers and their staffs, and all the others who, for the last decade have freely given of their time and expertise to help me get to this day.
I love all of you and will be forever grateful.
With God’s help, I am committed to live the rest of my life helping others, especially young people. My hope is to help other young girls avoid ending up where I have been.
Thank you.” -Cyntoia Brown