Amy on the Issues

In 2018, reforms were enacted in our criminal justice system; since then, Massachusetts has seen a number of notable improvements. A Boston Foundation report indicates that the reforms have led to a decline in crime and incarceration rates. However, the report also suggests that there is still more to be done to address racial disparities and to divert young adults from entering the criminal justice system. Reforms are needed regarding the care and treatment of those incarcerated, such as limiting the use of solitary confinement, improving the overall conditions of jails, refining provisions for medical release, and increasing access to education and mental health services. I agree with the results of the report; accordingly, here are some of the policies/reforms I will advocate for:

Keeping people out of the criminal justice system:

• Increase the age of criminal majority and raise the age of incarceration to 21 for certain offenses to keep young adults out of the system. 

• Increase the emphasis on restorative justice. 

• Decriminalize minor offenses. 

• Support funding for municipalities to increase non-law-enforcement, unarmed, community-based emergency response options. When I was on the City Council, I proposed adding a social worker to the police force because I understood that so many in our community in Newton are in need of mental health support, not police intervention. I was pleased that the then Police Chief Howard Mintz agreed and a social worker was added. 

Care for people incarcerated:

• Enact a moratorium on jail and prison construction. 

• Improve prison living conditions. I am aware of the living conditions and the anguish prisoners have reported regarding treatment within the facilities, and I strongly believe baseline conditions must be established to ensure the humane treatment of those incarcerated.

• Ensure access to reproductive healthcare, mental health resources, and addiction treatment.

• Strengthen visitation rights to allow for those incarcerated to maintain connections between their families and community. 

• Limit the use of solitary confinement.

• Revise the medical parole statute by separating the public safety assessment from the definition of medical eligibility, provide access to cognitively incapacitated individuals, clarify the timeline for the process and create an emergency process for considering petitions for those whose life expectancy is 6 months or less.

• Increase support for reintegration through education and vocational training. 

• Increase support for individuals after their release to reduce the likelihood of re-incarceration. 

Data Collection and Oversight:

• Support continued efforts to collect aggregated data about charges and convictions for sentenced offenders in state and county correctional facilities.

• Carry out the reforms of 2018 that called for more data collection.
  

The reforms of 2018 have gone a long way, but we must continue to do more. As your state representative, I promise to advocate for the rights of the incarcerated and work to keep people out of the criminal justice system.