What Happened to Derek Michael Chauvin?
Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was convicted of the murder of George Floyd in 2021 and later pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges. He is currently serving concurrent state and federal prison sentences in Texas and, as of August 2026, continues to pursue legal avenues to overturn his state conviction.
Quick Answer
Derek Chauvin is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Big Spring, a low-security federal prison in Texas. He is serving concurrent sentences: 22.5 years for the state murder conviction of George Floyd and 21 years for violating Floyd's civil rights. As of August 18, 2026, Chauvin has filed a third petition for post-conviction relief, seeking to vacate his state murder conviction based on claims of procedural errors in his initial prosecution.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
George Floyd's Murder
Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, knelt on George Floyd's neck for over nine minutes during an arrest, leading to Floyd's death.
Chauvin Arrested and Charged
Chauvin was arrested and initially charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Charges Upgraded
Chauvin's charges were upgraded to include second-degree murder.
State Trial Conviction
A jury found Chauvin guilty of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in George Floyd's death.
State Sentencing
Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge.
Federal Civil Rights Plea
Chauvin pleaded guilty in federal court to violating George Floyd's civil rights and the civil rights of a minor in a separate incident.
Federal Sentencing
A federal judge sentenced Chauvin to 21 years in prison for violating civil rights, to be served concurrently with his state sentence.
Transferred to Federal Prison (FCI Tucson)
Chauvin was transferred from a Minnesota state prison to FCI Tucson, a medium-security federal facility in Arizona.
State Conviction Affirmed on Appeal
The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed Chauvin's state murder conviction.
U.S. Supreme Court Declines Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Chauvin's appeal, leaving his state conviction in place.
Stabbed in Prison
Chauvin was stabbed 22 times by another inmate while incarcerated at FCI Tucson.
Transferred to FCI Big Spring, Texas
Chauvin was transferred to FCI Big Spring, a low-security federal prison in Texas, following the stabbing incident.
First Post-Conviction Petition Dismissed
Chauvin's first petition for post-conviction relief was dismissed by the Hennepin County District Court.
Second Post-Conviction Petition Dismissed
A second post-conviction petition, alleging due process violations, was dismissed without a hearing by the district court.
Third Post-Conviction Petition Filed
Chauvin filed a third petition for post-conviction relief, seeking to overturn his state murder conviction based on claims of 'structural error' in his initial prosecution, including unlawful prosecutor assignment and failure to convene a grand jury.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Derek Chauvin's legal saga began on May 25, 2020, when, as a Minneapolis police officer, he knelt on George Floyd's neck for over nine minutes during an arrest, leading to Floyd's death. This incident, captured on bystander video, ignited widespread protests against police brutality and racial injustice across the United States and globally.
Chauvin was arrested on May 29, 2020, and initially charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, with charges later upgraded to include second-degree murder. His highly publicized state trial commenced in March 2021, culminating in a jury finding him guilty on all counts: unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter on April 20, 2021. On June 25, 2021, Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge.
In December 2021, Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating George Floyd's civil rights, as well as the civil rights of a then-14-year-old child in a separate incident in 2017. On July 7, 2022, he received a 21-year federal sentence, which was set to run concurrently with his state sentence. As part of his federal plea agreement, Chauvin was transferred from a Minnesota state prison to a federal facility, initially FCI Tucson in Arizona, in August 2022, where conditions were expected to be less restrictive and safer for him.
While at FCI Tucson, Chauvin was stabbed 22 times by another inmate on November 24, 2023, suffering serious injuries. Following this incident, he was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Big Spring, a low-security prison in Texas, by August 2024.
Chauvin has consistently sought to appeal his convictions. His direct appeal of the state conviction was affirmed by the Minnesota Court of Appeals in April 2023, and both the Minnesota Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case in late 2023. He filed a first petition for post-conviction relief in late 2024, which was dismissed in April 2025. A second petition, filed in November 2025, alleging due process violations regarding expert testimony and jury instructions, was dismissed in May 2026. As of August 18, 2026, Chauvin's legal team has filed a third petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the assignment of the case to the Minnesota Attorney General was illegitimate and that the failure to convene a grand jury violated his due process rights. This latest motion seeks to stay his ongoing appeal of the second petition to pursue these new claims in district court.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Derek Michael Chauvin made different choices?