Massachusetts Bishop's issue Statement on Criminal Justice Reform

Dear Governor Baker, Senate President Rosenberg, Speaker DeLeo and Chief Justice Gants;

As we approach the Holiday Season and the beginning of a new Legislative Session next month, we, the four Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts, urge you to join together as one and file comprehensive legislation that reforms our criminal justice system for criminal offenders.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center will be issuing its long awaited report within the next several weeks. It is expected to provide a blueprint for these important legislative reforms. While acknowledging this type of legislation will be multi-faceted, covering many layers of the judicial system, we certainly hope and expect that the report and subsequent legislation, at a minimum, will recognize and address the following critical areas that offenders face every day under the current judicial system: For full letter see here.

2017 Legislative Testimony of Criminal Justice Reform

House Bill 74 "An Act Implementing the Joint Recommendations of the Massachusetts Criminal Review."  See testimony here. pdf, June 2017