STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A GRAND JURY on Thursday indicted Bryon Hefner, the husband of former Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, on felony charges connected with five sexual assaults, criminal lewdness, […]
Criminal Justice
Posted inCriminal Justice
Compromise criminal justice bill unveiled
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A HANDFUL OF MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES for drug offenses would be repealed and the state’s approach to juvenile offenders overhauled in a sweeping criminal justice bill […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
State Police cite overtime discrepancies
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A REVIEW INITIALLY LAUNCHED to look at overtime payments made to a handful of State Police members has uncovered possibly more malfeasance, as audit results have […]
Posted inPolitics
Another entry in Suffolk DA’s race
THE RACE FORÂ Suffolk County district attorney is getting more crowded. Rachael Rollins, an attorney with a broad resume ranging from work as a federal prosecutor to general counsel to Massport […]
Posted inPolitics
Berkshire DA says exit aimed at helping top aide win post
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER and Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless are coming under fire for setting up a behind-the-scenes hand-off of the DA’s post to the office’s first assistant. On […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Carvalho drops bid for Senate to make DA run
What follows is Rep. Evandro Carvalho’s statement on running for Suffolk County district attorney. EARLIER THIS MONTH, I launched my campaign for State Senate, eager to serve the people of […]
Posted inThe Download
The cost of the drug war
Someday soon, perhaps even today, Supreme Court Justice Frank Graziano will sign an order dismissing charges against about 8,000 drug defendants whose cases were caught up in the misconduct by state […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
McAuliffe says she’ll be the ‘progressive change candidate’ for DA
SHANNON MCAULIFFE may have to shift gears from a campaign that was preparing to challenge a 16-year incumbent to what is now a wide-open race for Suffolk County district attorney, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Conley won’t seek reelection as Suffolk DA
SUFFOLK COUNTY District Attorney Daniel Conley shook up the legal landscape on Tuesday with word that he won’t seek reelection this fall. The news came as a longtime Boston defense […]
Posted inOpinion
DAs need to be held accountable
WHO ARE THE MOST POWERFUL people in the criminal justice system? A lot of people quickly say, judges. The real answer: district attorneys. Look no further than the timely case […]
Posted inThe Download
Judicial excess in Nassar case
The crimes committed by Larry Nassar are the despicable and depraved acts of a vile sexual predator. The loathing of Nassar and a belief that even the sentence of up […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, State House News Service
Lelling doesn’t budge on pot stance
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE OPIOID CRIMES ARE HIS TOP drug enforcement priority, but US Attorney Andrew Lelling told reporters Wednesday that his enforcement of federal marijuana laws could ensnare anyone […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Modest benefit found in Boston study of police body cameras
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS from Boston’s study of police-worn body cameras point to a small benefit in reducing citizen complaints filed against officers, but no impact on police use of force against […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics
DAs differ on expense approaches
AS A GROUP, the 11 district attorneys in Massachusetts are not big spenders when it comes to dining out or traveling on the state’s dime. But within the group, there […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics
US attorney threatens state’s pot industry
US ATTORNEY ANDREW LELLING has sent a chilling response to calls from pro-pot advocates to clarify his stance on marijuana prosecution in Massachusetts, a message sure to send potential investors […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics
Confusion reigns in states with legal pot
THE ONE THING that is certain with the change in enforcement of federal marijuana laws is that there will be no uniform approach to enforcement by US attorneys in states […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Sessions turns back pot clock
ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS has thrown the emerging legal marijuana industry into turmoil by rescinding an Obama-era memorandum that ordered the Justice Department to ignore enforcing federal drug laws in […]
Posted inPolitics
US Atty: Joyce ran office as ‘criminal enterprise’
FORMER STATE SEN. BRIAN JOYCE was arrested Friday and indicted for engaging in multiple influence-peddling schemes which netted him up to $1 million in fees that he went to elaborate […]
Posted inOpinion
A new social contract on public safety
THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE recently passed a comprehensive criminal justice reform bill. It aims to improve public safety while reducing the size and cost of the prison system. More importantly, the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Opinion
Debating immigration policy on Beacon Hill
IMMIGRATION REFORM isn’t part of the criminal justice reform bill House members will begin debating today, but Republican lawmakers want it to be. Maybe they’re right and it should be […]
Posted inOpinion
A Rikers view of criminal justice reform
I LEFT MY HOMETOWN of Boston three years ago to find myself inside Rikers Island. What I witnessed inside that most infamous jail complex would become my education on the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
House pushes narrower criminal justice legislation
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE plans to consider substantial changes to the way justice is delivered, with a powerful committee polling members Monday on legislation to repeal certain […]
Posted inPolitics
Brockton candidate already a winner
WITH MAYORAL RACES in the gun lap around the state, most eyes are on what’s happening in Boston and then maybe on Lawrence and Framingham or Newton. But little attention […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
House criminal justice bill seen taking up broad reform
A KEY HOUSE LEADER signaled that his chamber is likely to respond to a sweeping Senate criminal justice bill with legislation that tackles many of the issues in the Senate […]
