Tag Archives: Parole Board

DOES A NEW GOVERNOR SIGNAL A NEW DIRECTION FOR THE MASS PAROLE BOARD?

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Please see my newest at Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism (BINJ) here.  It begins:

“On Aug. 31, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey nominated social justice advocate and social worker Sarah Coughlin to the state’s Parole Board, and stated in a press release that Coughlin shared “the administration’s commitment to making our criminal justice system more just and equitable for all.”

Coughlin is currently the director of community engagement and partnerships at Mass General Brigham, and has wide-ranging experience with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men and women in re-entry, substance use disorder, trauma,and healing.”  MORE

AS MASS RECONSIDERS LWOP FOR 18 TO 20-YR-OLDS, WILL RACE MATTER?

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Please read and share my newest at DIGBoston.  As Massachusetts Reconsiders Life Without Parole for 18 to 20-year-olds, Will Race Matter? begins:

“A potential history-making hearing was held before the seven justices at the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) on Feb. 6, as two linked cases called for an end to mandatory life without parole sentences (LWOP) for “emerging adults,” those who were 18 to 20-years-old at the time of their crime.

These cases spring from Diatchenko v. District Attorney, the historic 2013 Massachusetts ruling in which the SJC ordered that any life-in-prison sentences for juveniles (those under 18 at the time of their crime) without parole possibility were unconstitutional, i.e. constituting cruel or unusual punishment. Following that decision, 66 juveniles became eligible to see the Parole Board.

Ending the sentence of LWOP for emerging adults would impact approximately 200 people currently in the Mass prison system, nearly half of whom have served at least 25 years behind bars. They would be able to petition the Parole Board to serve the remainder of their sentences in the community with supervision.” MORE

The Gov. Council is at it Again

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Please see my newest article at DIGBoston

It begins: Unruly, Argumentative Gov. Council Infllames Parole Board Hearings
“There was high drama on display again at a Massachusetts Governor’s Council meeting at the State House last week. During two nomination hearings on June 15, councilors argued with each other, used their podiums to air their pet peeves, and insulted and cut off witnesses.”

 

INNOVATIVE REENTRY: THE FOCUS OF THOMAS KOONCE’S PAROLE HEARING 

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Please see and share this article on a plan for re-entry from Thomas Koonce’s parole hearing on DIGBoston here.. It begins:

“An innovative plan to exit prison was the highpoint of Thomas Koonce’s two-and-a-half hour parole hearing before the Massachusetts Parole Board on March 24. Several formerly incarcerated men who were locked up with Koonce have proposed plans to offer housing, work, and support, providing Koonce is approved for parole.”  MORE

 

 

First Lifer Commutation in Mass. Since 1997 Goes to Gov. Council

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Please see my newest article about the commutation hearing of Tom Koonce (pictured above on left). The support, including his son (Thomas Andrews on right) was enormous. A 9 1/2 hour hearing before the Gov. Council and all that came with it is detailed in my newest article for DigBoston. If Council approves the commutation, then Koonce will apply for parole. Read and share!