THE TOP OFFICIAL at the Department of Correction on Wednesday rescinded an internal memo issued earlier this week by one of her top deputies that would have initiated a moratorium […]
Criminal Justice
Posted inArts and Culture
Virus notes: Discrimination warning issued
SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYÂ Rachael Rollins said she has received no official complaints about discrimination against Asian-Americans in connection with the coronavirus, but representatives of the community say incidents are occurring […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Ex-Souza prisoner says he was abused
A FORMER PRISONER at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center who was released on February 14 said on Wednesday that he was subjected to abuse by tactical forces in the wake […]
Posted inOpinion
Corrections data raise big questions
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM rolled through state legislatures with unusual bipartisan support throughout the 2010s. There was rare consensus on what would happen: Rolling back tough-on-crime-era policies that spiked prison populations […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Court: State not liable for assault at DYS facility
A STATE APPEALS COURT agreed to dismiss a case against the state’s Department of Youth Services for an assault that occurred at a now-shuttered facility for youth in state custody, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Judge sides with inmates on attorney access
A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE issued a preliminary injunction against the state’s Department of Correction on Friday, ordering the agency to seek court approval for any actions limiting prisoner access to […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Task force punts on raising the age of juvenile offenders
A STATE TASK FORCE decided against taking a position on the issue of whether or not to raise the age of jurisdiction for the juvenile justice system, but is urging wider adoption of programs […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Public safety secretary confirms MCI-Framingham to close
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER’S public safety secretary confirmed on Tuesday that MCI-Framingham, the oldest women’s penitentiary in the country, will be shuttered and prisoners eventually relocated to the Bay State Correctional […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Lelling plugs fed role on corruption probes
US ATTORNEYÂ Andrew Lelling stood on a podium at Moakley Courthouse on Tuesday announcing federal charges against Democratic State Rep. David Nangle for misusing campaign funds. But for a few minutes, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
16 Souza prisoners charged in attack on guards
WORCESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Joseph Early Jr. on Thursday charged 16 prisoners at the state’s maximum-security prison in connection with a violent January 10 attack on four correctional officers. According to video of the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
What you need to know about new hands-free driving law
IT’S TIME TO stop reading those emails while traffic is crawling on the Southeast Expressway. Massachusetts’s ban on handheld cellphone use while driving goes into effect Sunday. Gov. Charlie Baker […]
Posted inUncategorized
DOC says prisoner suing agency assaulted officers
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION on Wednesday tried to turn the tables on a prisoner who alleged the agency violated his civil rights and assaulted him by accusing the inmate […]
Posted inPolitics
Nangle steps down from House posts
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FACING A RAFT of federal charges connected to bank fraud and the improper use of campaign funds, Rep. David Nangle appears set to attempt to ride […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Lowell rep arrested for misusing $70,000 in campaign funds
STATE REP. DAVID NANGLE, a Lowell Democrat and member of the Legislature’s Ethics Committee, was arrested Tuesday and charged with using his campaign account to pay for more than $70,000 […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
One year in, Rollins takes stock
REFLECTING ON HER first year in office, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins says one of the things she’s been most surprised at is how surprised some are about her […]
Posted inThe Download
One year in, Rollins takes stock
Reflecting on her first year in office, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins says one of the things she’s been most surprised at is how surprised some are about her […]
Posted inThe Download
One year in, Rollins takes stock
Reflecting on her first year in office, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins says one of the things she’s been most surprised at is how surprised some are about her […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Prison superintendent cites protocols for actions
CITING PUBLIC AND CONFIDENTIAL Department of Correction protocols, the superintendent of the state’s maximum security prison said in a court hearing on Thursday that he had the authority to cut […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
2 Walsh aides cleared of federal charges
When two Boston City Hall aides were found guilty on federal charges for pressuring officials at the Boston Calling music festival to hire union labor, critics pointed to the trial […]
Posted inThe Download
2 Walsh aides cleared of federal charges
When two Boston City Hall aides were found guilty on federal charges for pressuring officials at the Boston Calling music festival to hire union labor, critics pointed to the trial […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Attorneys, prisoners say limits still being imposed at Souza-Baranowksi
ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING INMATES at the maximum security state prison in Shirley are disputing claims by prison officials that restrictions on attorney visits and prisoner access to legal documents following a January disturbance at […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Beacon Hill notes: Inmate calls for free
A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW inmates at state and county correctional facilities to make phone calls for free was endorsed unanimously on Tuesday by the Legislature’s Public Safety and Homeland […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Inmates accuse Souza guards of retaliation
THE STATE’S MOST SECURE prison facility has turned into a war zone since a group of inmates attacked and severely injured three corrections officers on January 10. Staff at the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
State Police overtime scandal keeps expanding
Reading about the Massachusetts State Police overtime scandal is like opening a Pandora’s box that can never be shut. This week, out of the box popped a lieutenant who allegedly […]
