Commutation Of Cyntoia Brown's Sentence

NASHVILLE – Earlier today Governor Bill Haslam commuted the sentence of Cyntoia Denise Brown (#00410593), an inmate at Tennessee Prison for Women.  Per the commutation, Brown will be released to parole supervision on August 7, 2019.  As part of this commutation, there are several conditions that must be met including:

·         Placement in transition/re-entry programming,

·         Compliance with an approved release plan,

·         Continue working toward her bachelor’s degree,

·         Maintain employment or educational enrollment once placed on parole,

·         Participate in regular counseling sessions, and

·         Maintain a regular commitment to community service. 

Over the next several months, Ms. Brown will meet with counselors at the facility on designing a reentry plan.  This plan will include an updated risk/needs assessment, placement in the transition center, and continuing her current course of study through the Lipscomb University LIFE Program.  The Transition Center is designed to prepare offenders for release from prison by providing them with a supportive living environment, evidence-based transitional services, and programs to develop the social skills, self-discipline and job experience necessary for them to successfully reenter society.  This is accomplished through a phase-based model emphasizing accountability that ultimately provides offenders an opportunity to hold jobs within the community, along with collaborations with local employers and community partners.

As part of the department’s commitment to seamless supervision, the re-entry plan that was developed will be shared with the supervising officers in the community.  During initial meetings, offenders meet with their parole officer and review the conditions of their supervision.  They are then supervised according to the evidence-based standards of supervision.  These standards determine how often an offender meets with their officer and what additional programs they may need. 

Seamless supervision and a continuous focus on successful reentry are essential to the department’s non-negotiable mission to enhance public safety.