DALLAS — The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles granted parole to former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger on October 2, 2026. The state prison system will determine when she is released from custody.

Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney representing the Jean family, said the family was “disappointed by the decision.” He added that the release diminishes the severity of the original sentence imposed by the court. “A 10-year sentence was already a fraction of what was lost. Releasing Ms. Guyger after seven years makes that loss feel even smaller in the eyes of the system. It is not. The family still lives with this loss every day,” Merritt said.

The Jean family issued a statement requesting privacy and thanking well-wishers for their support. Brandt Jean said: “I personally want the best for you. I wasn’t even going to say this before my family, but I don’t even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you, because I know that’s exactly what Botham would want you to do — to give your life to Christ.

The Dallas Police Department stated it had no role in the parole decision. Our thoughts remain with the Jean family and all those impacted by his loss,” the department said in a statement.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles stated she did not have a documented pattern of violent arrests. The board also noted that she maintained a satisfactory institutional adjustment during her incarceration. Additionally, the board stated she completed programs to enhance chances of obtaining and maintaining full-time stable employment. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice reported that she completed a vocational training program in prison, specifically in the field of computer networking, which was part of her rehabilitation plan.

She was convicted in 2019 of murdering Botham Jean. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors had asked jurors to sentence her to at least 28 years in prison.

She faced a potential sentence of up to life in prison or as little as two years. Her murder conviction ruling was upheld on appeal twice in 2021.

Jean was 26 years old at the time of his death. He was Black. Jean was working as an accountant for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dallas when he was killed.

He grew up in St. Lucia and graduated from Harding University in Arkansas in 2016. Jean would have turned 35 years old on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026.

On September 6, 2018, she told authorities she mistakenly entered Jean's apartment believing it was her own. Her apartment was on the third floor, and Jean's apartment was on the fourth floor directly above hers. She said she found Jean's door unlocked.

She testified that she used her electronic key fob to open the door and immediately drew her service weapon once inside. She told authorities she believed Jean was an intruder. Jean was eating ice cream in his living room when he was shot. He was not armed when he was shot. Prosecutors said the trajectory of the bullet showed Jean was either getting up from his couch or cowering when she fired. She was arrested three days after the shooting. She was fired from the Dallas Police Department before her murder trial.

During the trial, prosecutors revealed text messages sent by her that contained racist content unrelated to Jean or his killing. In a text message about the 2018 Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Dallas, an officer wrote to her, “When does this end lol,” and she replied, “When MLK is dead.. oh wait..” Two days before the shooting, she replied to a text about a dog that “may be racist” with, “It’s okay.. I’m the same.” She had a prior disciplinary record with the Dallas Police Department, including a 2017 incident where she was reprimanded for failing to follow protocol during a traffic stop.

She was also involved in a 2016 incident where she was cited for reckless driving after speeding through a red light while on duty. In 2024, a jury ordered her to pay the Jean family nearly $100 million in a federal civil trial. The family received a $98.65 million civil judgment against her, which included $60 million in punitive damages. She initially became eligible for parole on Sept. 29, 2024.

Her initial parole review occurred on Oct. 10, 2024, and resulted in a denial. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has a policy of not releasing information about parole decisions until after the individual is released, as stated in its internal guidelines. The board is appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott. In 2018, the Dallas Police Department implemented new training protocols for officers following the case, including enhanced de-escalation techniques and improved use-of-force policies. In 2021, the department faced criticism for its handling of internal affairs, particularly regarding the investigation into her conduct before the shooting, as noted in a report by the Texas Office of the Attorney General.

Timeline

Jean graduated from Harding University in Arkansas in 2016. In 2018, in a text message about the Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Dallas, an officer wrote to her, “When does this end lol,” and she replied, “When MLK is dead.. oh wait..” I’m the same.”

On that date, she told authorities she mistakenly entered Jean's apartment believing it was her own. She also told authorities she believed Jean was an intruder.

What's New

She was granted parole by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, which is appointed by Governor Greg Abbott. The board has a policy of not releasing information about parole decisions until after the individual is released, as stated in its internal guidelines.

In 2018, the Dallas Police Department implemented new training protocols for officers following the Jean case, including enhanced de-escalation techniques and improved use-of-force policies. Jean's family received a $98.65 million civil judgment against her in a 2024 federal jury trial, which included $60 million in punitive damages.

Why It Matters

The parole grant concludes a legal process that began with a 2019 murder conviction and included a 2024 civil judgment ordering her to pay the Jean family $98.65 million. The decision shows the distinction between criminal sentencing and administrative parole eligibility, as she served seven years of a 10-year sentence. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles cited her satisfactory institutional adjustment and completion of vocational training as factors in the decision.

The case previously prompted the Dallas Police Department to implement new training protocols in 2018, including enhanced de-escalation techniques. A 2021 report by the Texas Office of the Attorney General criticized the department's handling of internal affairs regarding her conduct prior to the shooting. The parole decision occurs as the Jean family continues to navigate the loss, with their attorney stating that the release makes the loss feel smaller in the eyes of the system.