Tennessee life sentence now 40 years

A man in a Tennessee prison has won his lawsuit at the Tennessee Court of Appeals, which on Aug. 15 ruled that certain inmates can shave time off the end of so-called life sentences with good behavior.
Life sentences in Tennessee could be as short as about 40 years for some, the judges wrote. The ruling applies to those sentenced to life for crimes committed before July 1, 1995, or for crimes committed as a juvenile, according to the inmate's attorney.
The panel of judges Frank G. Clement Jr., D. Michael Swiney and Andy D. Bennett unanimously sided with incarcerated man Howard Aktins after argument on July 8.
David Esquivel, attorney for Atkins, said if the ruling stands, it means dozens or hundreds of people sentenced to life should have already been released from state custody.
The Tennessee Department of Correction, which Atkins sued in 2022, could still appeal the ruling to the Tennessee Supreme Court. The Tennessee Attorney General's Office, which represents the department in legal matters, told The Tennessean in an Aug. 20 email it is "still reviewing next steps."
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