Juvenile Justice Reform

Kids are kids — emerging research confirms that capacity for self-control doesn’t fully develop until well after the age of 18.  That insight, taken to heart, has far-reaching implications for the way we respond to youthful misbehavior. The MacArthur Foundation has funded much of the recent research. The Foundation was troubled by the trend in …

Sentencing Reform — Overview

At this stage in our history, we are overusing incarceration as a tool for protecting the public. We tend to focus on the terrible cases where we fail to lock up very dangerous people who go on to commit horrendous crimes. But of equal concern are the thousands of instances in which we lock up …

S625, An Act relative to penalties for shoplifting

Senator Brownsberger submitted the following written testimony to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. TO:         Committee on the Judiciary  FROM:    Senator William N. Brownsberger  RE:           S615, An Act relative to penalties for shoplifting  DATE:      October 22, 2013  I am writing in support of S625, An Act relative to penalties for shoplifting.  I filed this bill …

H1590, An Act relative to appeals

Senator Brownsberger submitted the following written testimony to the Joint Committee on Transportation. TO:                  Joint Committee on Transportation FROM:            Senator William N. Brownsberger RE:                  House Bills 1590 and 3015 DATE:            October 18, 2013 I am writing in favor of H1590, An Act relative to appeals, and H3015, An Act to reduce court fees. These …

S627, An Act relative to the penalty for vandalism

Senator Brownsberger submitted the following written testimony to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.   TO:          Committee on the Judiciary  FROM:    Senator William N. Brownsberger  RE:          S627, An Act relative to the penalty for vandalism  DATE:     July 9, 2013  I am writing in support of S627, An Act relative to the penalty for vandalism.  This …

S52, An Act promoting restorative justice practices

Senator Brownsberger submitted the following written testimony to the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. TO:          Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities  FROM:    Senator William N. Brownsberger  RE:          S52, An Act promoting restorative justice practices  DATE:     July 9, 2013    I write in support of S52, An Act promoting restorative …