NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Calvin Bryant has come to learn in the Edgehill neighborhood, every foot matters. In 2008, it was on a basketball court that Bryant sold drugs to a police informant.
"We were playing basketball as he pulled up, that’s when the transaction took place," Bryant said.
Less than a thousand feet away sat the Edgehill library. That meant Calvin was charged under the state’s Drug-Free Zone law: with no kids around, and no weapons involved, the judge was forced to sentence Calvin to 17 years. He was released after serving 10 years thanks to a deal struck by his attorney Daniel Horwitz and District Attorney Glenn Funk.
At first glance, a Drug-Free School Zone might sound like a great idea to help keep kids safe, but critics have argued the laws unfairly target minority communities, where schools, churches and parks are packed close together.
Now Gov. Bill Lee has approved new changes to those zones, to take effect September 1. Drug-Free Zones that carry enhanced penalties have been cut to just 500 feet around schools, churches, parks and libraries, and judges now have more discretion.
State Republicans who pushed for the change said it makes things fairer for minority communities
"Especially in the inner cities, especially these MDHA properties, everywhere there’s a church or high school or library, even a middle school, so its kind of hard not to be within a thousand feet of anything," Bryant said.
Calvin says he now knows selling drugs, no matter where you are is wrong. He now mentors kids through a non-profit he started. But in a neighborhood where every foot matters, Calvin says the fairness this new law brings can help give his community a leg up.
"I feel like them passing this law is like a relief in the Black community," Bryant said.
