Many people experience long term civil disabilities as a result of having been arrested or charged with a crime. They may be unable to join the military, get a job or find housing. This post, the first in a series breaking down this complex problem, introduces some basic concepts and policy challenges.
Justice
animal welfare, civil law and procedure, criminal law, disability, drug policy, family law, freedom of speech, guardianship, gun violence, housing law, immigration, indigenous agenda, lgbtq rights, policing, privacy, sexual child abuse, terrorism, women's rights
Yesterday’s Marijuana Vote
As a public advocate of marijuana legalization, I look forward to supporting the full implementation of the people’s will. However, I was not troubled by the decision yesterday to postpone the commercial sale of marijuana by six months. The real battles to protect the people’s will lie ahead.
Delegation of Immigration Authority Section 287(g) Immigration and Nationality
In anticipation of changes to deportation policy federally, what can Massachusetts do to keep ICE enforcement actions relatively humane, at least in this state? The wording here, https://www.ice.gov/287g , suggests to me that putting state and local officers on this task is something a state chooses to do itself not something imposed on it from …
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Signs on public property
Many bridges in the state have been covered for years in flags and signs of various kinds. Now there are new ones on bridges over Route 128 in the Lexington area. There are flags and signs saying “America! United we stand, divided we fall.” That’s a fine sentiment, but what gives people the right to …
Yes on Question 4
I thought the Boston Globe got it just right in its recent endorsement of Question 4: The question may not be perfectly framed, but the answer is definitely yes.
Legalization of Marijuana
I support the legalization of marijuana. The following summarizes why: The criminalization of marijuana has resulted in vastly unequal treatment between the white community and communities of color. The “crime” of marijuana possession has resulted in far too many people being involved in the criminal justice system, which has a long-term detrimental effect on person’s …