Tag Archives: DigBoston

AFTER MATTIS—CHECK OUT THIS HISTORIC PAROLE HEARING

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Pictured: Alfred Therrien and his attorney John J. Barter in front of the Mass. Parole Board in Natick

Please see and share my newest article on the first Mattis parole hearing after the historic ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court in Mass to stop anyone under age 21 from serving LWOP, i.e. life without parole. HERE. It begins

“On July 16, Alfred Therrien appeared with his attorney John J. Barter before the Parole Board and became the first person in Massachusetts to seek parole as a “Mattis case.”

Commonwealth v Mattis, the monumental ruling rendered by the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) this past January, held that life without parole is now a violation of the Massachusetts constitution for those under the age of 21. The decision underscores the importance of developing-brain science, with the judge finding that, “in terms of impulse control, emerging adults are more similar to sixteen and seventeen-year-old juveniles than to older adults. That is, they are less able to control their impulses in emotionally arousing situations.”

Therrien, who committed his crime between the ages of 18 and 20, was the first to be granted a parole hearing because of this recent ruling. He had previously been sentenced to life without parole (LWOP), also known as ‘the other death penalty.'” MORE

Amazing article by Chris Faraone about MOTHERLOVE

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Please check out this incredible interview that my editor at Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism did with me here. Entitled, Prison journalist and writer Jean Trounstine explores unspoken pain around incarceration with new collection of short stories

It begins: “When it comes to writing about prison and parole, there are very few reporters who have as many sources among advocates or the incarcerated population as Jean Trounstine. I would know; as her editor at the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism for the past several years, I have been floored by her ability to unearth major scoops on the strength of those connections.

Jean is also an accomplished educator, activist, and author who has directed stage plays and published multiple books touching carceral topics, among them Shakespeare Behind Bars: The Power of Drama in a Women’s Prison. So with those noted contacts and that much experience, it surprised me to learn that she chose fiction as her next vehicle for impugning the US prison system and its “devastating impact on our communities in Massachusetts and beyond.”

The resulting work is Motherlove, in which Jean compassionately considers an ‘often-forgotten group—the mothers of children who kill, each struggling with the aftermath of murder.’ As she explains it, while fictional, each of the 10 characters is ‘drawn from her more than 30 years of experience with prisoners and their families.’” 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!