---
title: HR 1345. Boynton, Nicole; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1345
cite_as: HR 1345, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1345
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1345.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1345/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73159
date: 2026-02-11
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1344.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1346.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1345.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1345
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-02-11
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Mary Ann Santos
  - Stan Gunter
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1345/2025
upstream_id: 2114626
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - domestic violence
  - criminal justice reform
  - Survivor Justice Act
  - commendation resolution
---

# HR 1345. Boynton, Nicole; commend

## Text

House Resolution 1345
By: Representatives Santos of the 117th and Gunter of the 8th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing Nicole Boynton; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Nicole Boynton was the first person in the State of Georgia to be re-sentenced
under the Survivor Justice Act; and
WHEREAS, Nicole acted to protect herself against her abusive boyfriend, who she began
a relationship with when she was just a child; and
WHEREAS, Nicole was 18 years old when she was sentenced to life in prison; and
WHEREAS, the number of women incarcerated in Georgia's prisons has increased by 600
percent since 1980, and between 74 and 95 percent of women who are incarcerated have
experienced domestic or sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, in domestic violence relationships when violence and the threat of violence
have been constant, or have escalated over time, assessed risk is based on a history of abuse
and that abuse often leads to clinical assessments of being in "extreme or severe danger"; and
WHEREAS, the ongoing threat of harm, terror, and manipulation wielded by domestic
violence abusers serve as tactics of power and control that create multiple, intersecting
pathways to incarceration; and
WHEREAS, with the passage of The Survivors Justice Act, Georgia law can better recognize
when a survivor acts in self-defense, has been coerced into criminal activity, or whose
conviction was otherwise brought about by the abuse they experienced; and
WHEREAS, the Survivor Justice Act permits survivors to receive a reduced sentence or to
be re-sentenced when abuse was a significant contributing factor in their offense, allowing
survivors to have the full context of their situation considered at both trial and sentencing;
and
WHEREAS, while Nicole was incarcerated she was taken on as a client with the Georgia
Coalition Against Domestic Violence's Justice for Incarcerated Survivors program where she
was paired with the law firm of Alston & Bird who worked on her case pro bono for five
years; and
WHEREAS, after being paired with Alston & Bird, Nicole's life sentence was vacated and
she was released from prison after serving 23 years; and
WHEREAS, while Nicole was incarcerated she earned her GED and completed vocational
training to prepare for the working world including getting her welding, cosmetology and
food truck licenses, getting her CNA certification, and completing other courses with Life
University; and
WHEREAS, ensuring that sentencing reflects both accountability and the full context of an
offense strengthens public confidence in the justice system and promotes safer communities;
and
WHEREAS, while incarcerated, Nicole facilitated domestic violence support groups as a
Peer Mentor and supported other survivors who were also incarcerated; and
WHEREAS, Nicole has children and grandchildren, who she is excited to reunite with; her
son Romello testified in support of her at the re-sentencing hearing, he was just 4 years old
when she went to prison and now is 27 years old and lives in New York; and
WHEREAS, Nicole is kind, compassionate, generous, and thoughtful, she is motivated and
strong, and she is sharing her story with others in order to do whatever she can to help other
survivors and justice-impacted women.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize Nicole Boynton and commend her unwavering
commitment to justice.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to
Nicole Boynton.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution formally recognizes Nicole Boynton, the first person in the state re-sentenced under the Survivor Justice Act, and commends her for advocating for domestic violence survivors.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a ceremonial honor passed by the Georgia House of Representatives. It does not change any law. Instead, it recounts the story of Nicole Boynton, who was sentenced to life in prison at age 18 and later became the first person in Georgia re-sentenced under the Survivor Justice Act, a law that allows courts to consider whether abuse contributed to a survivor's offense when determining sentences.
The resolution describes how Boynton was paired with pro bono lawyers through the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, had her life sentence vacated, and was released after serving 23 years. It also notes her educational and vocational achievements while incarcerated and her work supporting other incarcerated survivors. The House directs the Clerk to provide Boynton with a copy of the resolution as a keepsake.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and commends Nicole Boynton by name for her resilience and advocacy work.
- Recounts her case as the first person in Georgia re-sentenced under the Survivor Justice Act, without creating any new legal rule.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Boynton.
- Does not amend, create, or repeal any Georgia statute; it is a symbolic honor rather than a change to law.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names and honors Nicole Boynton. More broadly it references domestic violence survivors in Georgia's prison system, the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the law firm Alston & Bird, which represented her pro bono.

### Why it matters

While the resolution itself changes no law, it publicly highlights the Survivor Justice Act's use in a real case, drawing attention to how Georgia courts can weigh a history of abuse in sentencing decisions for domestic violence survivors involved in the justice system.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses describe Boynton's case, including her life sentence at age 18 and her re-sentencing after 23 years of incarceration.
- The whereas clauses explain that the Survivor Justice Act allows reduced or new sentences when abuse was a significant contributing factor in the offense.
- The resolved clause states that House members recognize and commend Boynton's commitment to justice.
- The final clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to provide a copy of the resolution to Boynton.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-02-11)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-02-11)
- Sponsors: Mary Ann Santos, Stan Gunter
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73159

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1345.md?full=1