Gov. Lee’s Program Granting Expedited Leniency To School-Zone Drug Offenders Brought To An End

Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

In January of this year, under the radar of many Tennesseans, Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) ended an expedited clemency program for individuals sentenced under a previous iteration of Tennessee’s drug-free school zone law.

State law previously dictated lengthier sentences for individuals convicted of a drug crime within 1,000 feet of a school, library, park, daycare center or recreational center. 

In September of 2020, Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation that reduced the previous 1,000 ft. radius of a “school zone” down to a 500 ft. radius. 

The 2020 legislation also put restrictions on what The Tennessean called “harsh” sentencing requirements for crimes where a child is put at risk.

In December of 2021, Gov. Lee announced the creation of an expedited clemency program that would allow individuals sentenced under the previous state law, who would not have received that sentencing under the new state law, to become eligible for parole sooner through a “grant of clemency” or leniency. 

This program reportedly shifted the Board of Parole’s role in reviewing applications to the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC).

However, the board still had the final say as to whether an individual was eligible for the program. 

According to Attorneys Ben Raybin and Daniel Horwitz, there are some offenders who were sentenced to around 15 years in prison under old state law.

Today, these same individuals would have received a 2–3-year sentence under new state law for the same offense. 

Now that the Lee Administration has ended the expedited clemency program, offenders convicted under the previous law will no longer be offered that particular pathway out of their sentence. 

Despite what the liberal news media may project, this type of change in law not being retroactive is often par for the course. 

While the closing of the expedited clemency program was not officially announced to the press, the change was posted to TDOC’s website earlier this year according to spokesperson for the Lee Administration, Elizabeth Johnson. 

“The expedited clemency process for certain drug-free school zone offenders was designed to be temporary and had accomplished its intended purpose,” said Johnson. “We trust the Board of Parole to provide a thorough review to all clemency applications.”

Gov. Lee reportedly pardoned 30 individuals under the expedited program in 2022 and did not announce any numbers for drug-free school zone offenders pardoned in 2023.

The traditional clemency process can sometimes take years, however, that is still an option for offenders seeking to reduce their sentences.

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. 

You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.