HR 1345: Boynton, Nicole; commend

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.