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

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

The Case for College Education Behind Bars

Please read and share my latest article which examines why Massachusetts should expand college education behind bars. This is a subject near and dear to my heart since I taught in prison for 10 years before Pell Grants were abolished. Here 

It begins “Knowledge of the power structure that runs society has made the biggest difference in my life.”

John Yang was released from MCI Concord in 2020, and is now completing his BA at Emerson College in Boston. In a far-ranging interview, he spoke about being one of four students featured at a March 24 Education in Prison conference at Emerson which aimed to show how and why college programs behind bars need expansion.

“By picking up a book, I was creating a different way of being, finding new strengths and abilities that I didn’t know I had.”  MORE

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


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!