Thank you for your careful attention to the “Three Strikes” legislation. Persons struggling with drug addictions need treatment, not incarceration. You correctly point out that we need to increase the funding for treatments, which, when successful, can reduce the chance ofBoeing sent back to prison? In addition, I highly recommend the book, The New Jim …
Legislative News
commonwealth conversations, outlook, senate press releases, updates and analysis
The Big Picture on the Crime Bill
The House and Senate are still conferencing their conflicting versions of a crime bill for this session. The Senate version of the bill included a number of positive elements that merit study.
Bike Across America: Talk in Belmont on Saturday, April 14
Last August, I rode a bicycle across the country from Belmont to Anacortes, Washington on the Pacific Coast. It was a big experience and I’ll be talking about it on Saturday, April 14 from 3-5PM at the First Church in Belmont, 404 Concord Avenue.
Stand Your Ground Against Paranoia
Even knowing about the tragedy that cost Trayvon Martin his life in Florida, and despite less well publicized shootings where such laws protected assailants, Massachusetts may try to join the trend with its own “stand your ground” legislation. According to the Wellesley Patch, State Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, proposed a stand your ground gun, …
Prison Population Increases under the proposed Habitual Offender Bill
A recent analysis released by the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission reinforces concerns about the prison population impacts of the habitual offender bill.
Prescription Medication Abuse
Will, I’ve been meaning to write and thank you for working to tighten rules for prescription pain medication. As a social worker, I have encountered tragic situations of families ruined by prescription drug addiction. Most poignant was a juvenile court investigation for a family involved with DCF. The mother was getting monthly prescriptions for her …