Protests over the police killing of George Floyd have exposed a deep divide in the country on race issues. That schism is now playing out within Boston’s law enforcement community. […]
criminal justice
Posted inUncategorized
Officials of color unveil 10-point plan
THE PRESS CONFERENCE in front of the State House started with a moment of silence – 8 minutes and 46 seconds to be exact, the amount of time George Floyd, an unarmed […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
SJC refuses to order release of convicted prisoners
THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT refused to issue a preliminary injunction that would have released convicted prisoners to house arrest on Tuesday, holding that their continued incarceration increased their odds of […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Legal skirmishing continues at Bristol County Jail
EVEN AS COVID-19 deaths and infections are declining across Massachusetts, legal skirmishing is continuing at the Bristol County Jail over the safety of federal immigration detainees. Legal advocates for some […]
Posted inOpinion
Doctors for decarceration
IMAGINE YOU ARE TRAPPED in a room with 20 other people. You share one sink. You have limited access to soap and hand sanitizer. You can’t leave. Then, someone starts […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Courts to start reopening in phases this summer
MASSACHUSETTS COURTHOUSES are tentatively planning to start reopening for in-person proceedings in phases at some point this summer with jury trials set to resume in September if schools reopen, according to […]
Posted inThe Download
Coalition urges Baker to release prisoners
A coalition of advocacy groups pressured Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday to reduce the state’s prison population to limit the spread of COVID-19 in prisons. The community groups, led by […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Coalition urges Baker to release prisoners
A COALITION OF ADVOCACY groups pressured Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday to reduce the state’s prison population to limit the spread of COVID-19 in prisons. The community groups, led by […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Coalition presses Baker to reduce prison population
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE WARNING THAT PUBLIC HEALTH precautions are impossible with prisons and jails at their current population levels, a coalition of legal aid and community groups increased their […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Rollins asks SJC to vacate 64 guilty pleas
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Rachael Rollins asked the state’s highest court Monday to vacate guilty pleas for 64 defendants who were not provided exculpatory evidence in […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Judge orders COVID-19 testing for ICE detainees
DECLARING THAT A lawsuit filed on behalf of immigration detainees was likely to succeed in demonstrating “deliberate indifference” to their risk of contracting COVID-19, a federal judge ordered coronavirus testing […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Recordings of detainees at Bristol jail released
AN ADVOCATE FOR TWO immigration detainees at the Bristol County Jail released two phone recordings from inside the facility briefly describing the confrontation with Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson and […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Judge rejects bid to broaden Hodgson deposition
A FEDERAL JUDGE on Monday rejected demands by lawyers for immigration detainees at the Bristol County Jail to broaden a scheduled deposition of Sheriff Thomas Hodgson to include the circumstances […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Mici: No need to release inmates due to COVID-19
THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION’S top prison official told a state judge on Wednesday that she is satisfied with the way the system is responding to COVID-19 cases and sees no need […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Judge seeks COVID-19 test data on ICE detainees
US DISTRICT COURT Judge William Young is ordering the Bristol County sheriff’s office to begin submitting reports on the number of immigration detainees in its custody who have been tested […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Do civil commitments make sense in a pandemic?
IT’S HAMPDEN COUNTY Sheriff Nick Cocchi versus Prisoners’ Legal Services, round two, this time with a global pandemic thrown in. The sheriff and the legal services group have long been battling […]
Posted inThe Download
Do civil commitments make sense in a pandemic?
It’s Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi versus Prisoners’ Legal Services, round two, this time with a global pandemic thrown in. The sheriff and the legal services group have long been […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Lawsuit seeks release of sentenced prisoners during coronavirus
A NEW CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT filed in the state’s highest court by advocates aims to release sentenced and civilly committed prisoners to stem the spread of coronavirus in prisons. Prisoners’ […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Judge’s attorney accuses Lelling of political bias
THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING a judge charged with helping an undocumented immigrant evade federal immigration officials at her court is accusing US Attorney Andrew Lelling of political bias through his public […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Rollins: Lock him up
WHETHER YOU CALL IT a Nixon-goes-to-China moment or just an example of the shades of grey that color lots of criminal justice issues, Rachael Rollins is making news in a surprising […]
Posted inThe Download
Rollins: Lock him up
Whether you call it a Nixon-goes-to-China moment or just an example of the shades of grey that color lots of criminal justice issues, Rachael Rollins is making news in a […]
Posted inHealth Care
Virus notes: Trump slams state mutineers
PRESIDENT TRUMP on Tuesday suggested Gov. Charlie Baker and a host of governors from nearby states were mutineers for joining together to plan for the reopening of their economies after […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Coronavirus infection in state prisons more than two times statewide rate
THE CORONAVIRUS INFECTION rate among inmates in the state prison is more than two times than the statewide rate, according to new figures from the Department of Correction. Prisoners’ Legal Services sent out an […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
2 staffers test positive for Covid-19, says sheriff’s office
TWO STAFF MEMBERS from the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office have tested positive for COVID-19 as a federal judge continued to release more immigrant detainees from the Bristol House of Correction […]
