Many constituents, like the one whose e-mail is in this post, encourage Senator Brownsberger to co-sponsor legislation repealing mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses. The Senator has sponsored this legislation in the past and has signed on as a co-sponsor this session.
Criminal Law
The New Jim Crow
As Senate Chair of the state legislature’s Judiciary Committee, it is my top personal priority to lighten the footprint of the criminal justice system on communities of color. Even in Massachusetts, where I believe that most police leaders take an enlightened approach to community policing — certainly, our own police chief and District Attorney Ryan do — the New Jim Crow is a real problem.
Sex Offender Recidivism Commission
In 2013, the legislature created a commission to study “the most reliable protocols for assessing and managing the risk of recidivism of sex offenders.” Our goal is to make recommendations that will better protect the public from dangerous people, while being fair to offenders who pose little risk. The subject is difficult and emotional and we are trying to proceed in a step-by-step way to gather a full understanding of the subject before we reach any conclusions about public policy.
Senator Brownsberger Chairing Special Commission to Reduce the Recidivism of Sex Offenders
Senator Brownsberger is chairing a legislatively-created Special Commission to Reduce the Recidivism of Sex Offenders. Here is information about the Commission, its legislative charge, and meeting agendas and minutes.
Compromise Language Reported on Juvenile Murder Sentences
The Governor has approved the House-Senate agreement on a new sentencing structure for juveniles convicted of first degree murder.
Sentencing Juveniles for Murder
The Senate has acted on Senate 2246, which is intended to respond to the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in the Diatchenko case.