NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Lee announced Thursday he has granted pardons to 16 people, including two women from Hamilton County and a Bradley County man. Lee will also commute the parole of a Meigs County man convicted in 1981 of first-degree murder.
“These cases came to me through the Board of Parole,” Lee told reporters during a conference call, adding that was “important to note.”
“After thoroughly reviewing the merits of each case, I have decided to grant 16 individuals executive clemency,” Lee said. “Each individual case is unique and warranted consideration, and I thank the Board of Parole members for their thoughtful recommendations throughout this process.”
In related action, the Republican governor granted expedited parole eligibility to 30 people, following the Tennessee General Assembly’s recent action to amend the state law about drug-free school zone offenses.
“In light of recent updates to Tennessee state law, I have made the decision to grant parole eligibility to certain low-level drug offenders who merit consideration for an expedited review of their sentence,” Lee said. “Each parole hearing will be considered individually, and the Board of Parole will determine the appropriate outcome.”