Cyntoia Brown Granted Clemency By Tennessee Governor

Cyntoia Brown has officially been granted an early release after years of protest against her unfair conviction and sentencing in 2006. 

According to the Tennessean, Governor Bill Haslam granted Brown a full commutation to parole on Monday, which will allow Brown to be eligible for release on August 7 on time served. 

“This decision comes after careful consideration of what is a tragic and complex case,” Haslam said in a statement, referencing Brown’s 2006 conviction in which she was sentenced to life for the death of Johnny Mitchell, who held Brown captive as a sex trafficking victim. “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.” 

Now, upon her summer release, Brown, 30, will remain on parole for 10 years.