Readers took the time to offer frank criticism — both online and offline — of the piece I published last week about reforming criminal justice by shifting resources from incarceration to treatment. I appreciate the dialog. Keeping the public safe is the top goal of government, and we are starting to get past knee-jerk answers and get smart on crime.
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
The movement to reform criminal justice
I spent a Saturday in early April in Denver at a national meeting about criminal justice reform. The chance to hear what people are doing and thinking in other states was worth the plane time. The country is in the middle of a national attitude change on criminal justice issues: there is an increasing sense that we have gone too far with incarceration.
Outcome on the Opioid Bill
Last week, the legislature reached agreement on legislation to control opioid drug abuse. The bill does a lot and I was pleased to support it. Compromises were reached on many of the key issues discussed on this site over the past few months.
Raising the Threshold for Felony Larceny
Once a person has paid a penalty for a crime, we should let them put their past behind them. Last week, the legislature took one small step in that direction by raising the monetary threshold that divides misdemeanor larceny from felony larceny.
Reforming Criminal Justice Policy for Young Adults?
I spoke last week at a forum on reforming criminal justice policy for young adults. I can’t let go of the fact that we are incarcerating 5 times as many people in Massachusetts as we were 40 years ago, even though crime rates aren’t that different. We need to recognize the needs and risk factors that impel people to crime and do a better job of reducing recidivism by addressing those needs and risk factors.
Bills aim to curb teacher-student relationships
The Cape Cod Times reported on two bills being reviewed by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary relative to the age of consent. “We haven’t reached a full consensus yet, but I’m hopeful,” Brownsberger said.”