On July 23, the Massachusetts Judiciary Committee filed House Bill 5004, "An act improving certain criminal justice matters." This is the long-awaited criminal justice bill that includes several proposals to change Massachusetts' drug sentencing laws. Read more

7/9/08

Massachusetts FAMM legislative update

Read FAMM's update on sentencing reform efforts in the legislature, plus tips on raising awareness of mandatory sentencing laws at Governor Patrick's statewide town hall meetings. Read alert

5/22/08

Update on Senate budget amendment 104, parole eligibility

Thanks to all of you who have made calls this week supporting Senator Creem's budget amendment 104, which would allow those serving mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses to apply for parole after serving two-thirds of their sentences.

We have learned that her amendment will not be adopted as part of the FY'09 Senate budget. However, Senator Creem received assurances from Senate leaders that this issue will be considered when the Senate takes up expected criminal justice legislation later this session. Your work this session, and particularly over the last few days, continues to build support for mandatory minimum reform in Massachusetts.

If you have any questions, please contact Massachusetts project director Barbara Dougan at (617) 543-0878 or bdougan@famm.org.

5/9/08

Massachusetts alert

Click here to read FAMM's latest alert featuring the voices of mothers who have a loved one in prison.

4/3/08

Massachusetts FAMM legislative update

The latest news on sentencing and FAMM's recent activities in Massachusetts. Click here to read the alert.

2/13/08

FAMM welcomes Barbara J. Dougan as Mass. campaign director

Barbara J. Dougan has been named director of the newly launched Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) campaign in Massachusetts. FAMM is a national, nonpartisan organization working for fair and proportional sentencing laws on the federal and state levels. Dougan will orchestrate FAMM’s efforts in Massachusetts to assist lawmakers in reforming state mandatory minimum sentencing laws. Read press release

10/13/07

Massachusetts Joint Judiciary committee hearing on Nov. 13, 2007

Join Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) members in Boston on Nov. 13 to urge legislators to reform Massachusetts' mandatory minimum drug laws. Read more

8/1/07

Mandatory minimum sentences are endangering public safety

A fact sheet by Peter Elikann

5/07

S. 884 - a fiscally sound, "smart on crime" bill

Download FAMM's fact sheet on Sen. Cynthia Creem's bill

5/18/07

Action alert: Time for reform in Massachusetts

Thanks to our members in Massachusetts who attended the hearing at the State House in Boston on May 16! Read more

5/7/07

Action alert: Show your support for Massachusetts sentencing reform!
Attend hearing on May 16, 2007 at State House. Read action alert

4/15/07

Mass: Changes weighed on prison sentences

Boston Globe

Governor Deval Patrick has launched a comprehensive review of the state's mandatory sentencing laws, an effort endorsed by the attorney general and the chief justice of the state trial courts to help stop the "revolving door" in the state's prison system.

"People come out more dangerous than when they went in," Patrick told the Globe last week, explaining his administration's focus on fundamentally changing the philosophy of the criminal justice system.

Administration officials say that the mandatory minimum sentences, which eliminate judges' discretion in certain cases, drive up the cost of corrections and make it less likely that prisoners will participate in programs that could help them reenter society when they are released. Read more

1/4/07

New Governor calls for sentencing and CORI reform

In an inspiring inauguration speech, newly elected Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick called for changes in the state's sentencing and criminal offender record information (CORI) policies. Although support has been show for both mandatory sentencing and CORI reform among the state's elected officials, reform bills have stalled in the legislature year after year.

Governor Patrick's speech gives FAMM and other allies of reform hope that progress will be made on these issues.

Said Governor Patrick, "I know we can have safer neighborhoods. But it will take more community-based patrols, after-school and enrichment programs, summer job and volunteer opportunities for young people, training and pre-release preparation for inmates, and sensible reform of both CORI and sentencing. Let’s reach for that.

We know what to do. We know that our challenges were long in the making and will require long-term solutions. We know what to reach for. And we ought to know that either we invest today or we will surely pay excessively tomorrow. An investment in education today beats an investment in prisons tomorrow. We know that. Let's reach for that.

Quick fixes, gimmicks and sound bites are not enough. That’s not in the spirit of what built this country. That is not what cleared the forest and planted New England’s earliest farms. It’s not what inspired our great universities and museums. It’s not what created the boom in textile manufacturing in its time or a flourishing biotech industry today. It’s not what freed the colonies from oppression or the slaves from bondage or women from second class citizenship." Read full speech.

8/31/06
Reform fails, but advocates win
Despite a spirited campaign by FAMM members and a large, energetic coalition of dozens of other criminal justice reform groups, the Massachusetts legislature failed to pass the Public Safety Act (PSA) and S.929. The bills included parole eligibility for individuals convicted of drug offenses after they serve two-thirds of their maximum sentences, as well as reform of the availability of criminal record information to potential employers and landlords.

Regardless of the legislative outcome, advocates were bouyed by the momentum they built and making their voices heard. Many wrote letters, called, emailed and met with legislators in support of reform at the State House and in the legislator's district offices.

Advocacy efforts received overwhelming support in the Senate, where reform efforts were spearheaded by Senator Robert S. Creedon and Senator Dianne Wilkerson, who were joined by seven additional cosponsors and Senators Cynthia Cree, Robert O'Leary and Robert Tisei. Additionally, 29 out of 40 senators went on record in favor of mandatory minimum sentencing reform in a role call vote that was added to an amendment to the senate budget.

While the House was more cautious, it agreed to form a commission to study the issue and release new legislation in December for the next legislative session. Advocates are encouraged to prepare in advance for the renewed fight in December that will build on the progress made earlier this year.