Pubdate: Mon, 09 Oct 2017
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2017 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Rhonda Cook

GEORGIA PROSECUTORS PUSH TO FREE IMPRISONED LOW-LEVEL DRUG OFFENDERS

Anthony Gray expected to be an old man when he got out of prison after
serving a 30-year sentence for a relatively minor drug offense.

Aron Tuff was certain he would die there, having been sentenced to
life without parole after he was convicted in 1995 in Colquitt County
for possession of .03 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Both men were sentenced during a time when tough on crime drug laws of
the 1980s and '90s left many low-level drug offenders serving long
sentences.

But this year, with local prosecutors' help, Gray was freed after
serving 17 years, and Tuffs walked free after spending "21 years, two
months, 22 days" in the state's penal system.

Their freedom came with the help of Douglas County District Attorney
Brian Fortner who was approached by the Southern Center for Human
Rights about one of their cases. With the Center, Fortner is leading a
statewide effort asking prosecutors to review cases of inmates like
Gray and Tuffs, serving non-parolable sentences on minor drug offenses
and usually convicted of possessing small amounts.
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