Prisoner Advocates Call For Reform Of Parole Board As COVID Spreads
At least 17 people incarcerated in the stateâs prisons and jails have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and more than 3,000 prisoners have tested positive for the disease in a prison population now hovering just under 13,000, data shows.
Hans Neleman/Getty Images
Amid mounting cases of COVID-19 in the stateâs prisons and jails, a group of community organizations are calling on Gov. Charlie Baker and top lawmakers to push the Parole Board to expedite releases of eligible parolees.
More than 70 organizations on Tuesday sent a 10-page letter alerting state officials to what they call âserious concernsâ about the parole system, including what they allege are low release rates, long delays for decisions and unnecessary re-incarceration of parolees who havenât committed new crimes.
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Federal prisons in B.C. and across the country have failed to meet legal requirements to limit the use of solitary confinement, according to a report from the panel created to oversee the implementation of a new law that went into effect last November.
The report presents a damning assessment of the Correctional Service of Canada’s (CSC) implementation of “structured intervention units” (SIU), a method of isolating prisoners introduced last year that was intended to replace solitary confinement, a practice declared unconstitutional by Canada’s Supreme Court.
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Beacon Hill Roll Call: Dec. 21 to Dec. 25, 2020
Modified: 1/1/2021 3:12:17 PM
Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of Dec. 21 to Dec. 25.
Police changes (S 2963) The House, 107 to 50, and the Senate, 31 to 9, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a new version of a bill making major changes in the state’s policing system. The House and Senate adopted some of Gov. Baker’s amendments including scaling back a moratorium on the use of facial recognition software by law enforcement and limiting the influence of a civilian-led commission over police training. A key provision creates an independent, civilian-led commission with the power to investigate police misconduct and to certify, restrict, revoke or suspend certification for police officers and maintain a publicly available database of decertified officers. Other provisions include banning the use of chokeholds; limiting the use of deadly force; requirin
THE HOUSE AND SENATE
Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of Dec. 21-25.
POLICE CHANGES (S 2963)
House 107-50, Senate 31-9, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a new version of a bill making major changes in the state’s policing system. The House and Senate adopted some of Gov. Baker’s amendments including scaling back a moratorium on the use of facial recognition software by law enforcement and limiting the influence of a civilian-led commission over police training.
A key provision creates an independent, civilian-led commission with the power to investigate police misconduct and to certify, restrict, revoke or suspend certification for police officers and maintain a publicly available database of decertified officers. Other provisions include banning the use of chokeholds; limiting the use of deadly force; requiring police officers who witness another officer using force beyond what is necessary or rea
Push To Release Prison Inmates In MA Amid Pandemic
Prisoner advocates in Massachusetts are redoubling their legal efforts to release inmates from state prisons because of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a story reported on by WWLP/22 News, Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts argued in a Suffolk Superior Court filing Thursday that the state Department of Correction needs to release inmates to home confinement, furlough, medical parole, and other legal measures so that the remaining prisoners can safely socially distance behind bars.
The organization submitted accounts from roughly 40 inmates about crowded conditions in state prisons and their fears of contracting COVID-19 to bolster their appeal.