When It Comes To Fixing The Parole Board And Ending Racial Disparity, Look To The Governor's Council
Hi Everyone,
I recently stopped by the Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market to see the dedicated activists from the Acton Democratic Town Committee and Indivisible Acton who go there regularly to help educate folks about the issues, and I am so glad I did! We had a wonderful conversation about the state of criminal justice in Massachusetts and the difference the Governor's Council can make. They asked me to write it all down, so I am.
The timing was perfect for the Boston Globe's excellent editorial on the alarming state of our Parole Board. The editorial rightly point outs that our Parole Board is falling far short of our ideals, with a seven-member Parole Board down to just four, and facing a lawsuit from Prisoners' Legal Services of Massachusetts for failing to accommodate incarcerated persons with disabilities, and citing lax practices including cursory denials of parole often copied from one case to the next. Meanwhile, commutations and pardons have historically rolled out at a glacial pace, notwithstanding the excellent work by Governor Healey to nominate seven people for pardons this year, and their swift approval by the Governor's Council.Remember that the Governor's Council is key. It is the Governor's Council that approves nominations to the Parole Board. The failings of our Parole Board are therefore also the failings of the Governor's Council, which voted to approve every single member of the Parole Board now the subject of what appears to be a very justifiable lawsuit. Voters need to know that if they want change on the Parole Board, they need to look to their own member of the Governor's Council, and vote for change. As your Governor's Councillor, I will be a strong pro-active agent for the progressive change we need.
I am very grateful to the Third Middlesex Democrats for having me speak recently at their annual summer party. I spoke on how Massachusetts falls below the national average on racial disparity in our criminal justice system, at every level from crimes charged to bail imposed, and from sentencing to probation and parole. We must remember that racial disparity, and mass incarceration, happen one person at a time, one defendant at a time, before one judge at a time. Racial disparity therefore lies in the hands of our judges, and ending it lies in their hands too. If we want to end racial disparity, we have to make sure our judges do too. We must not tolerate these disparities, or believe that they cannot be changed. They can. If we use our power, and make sure our judges are anti-racist, we can make racial disparity in our criminal justice system a thing of the past. For more, read "Racial Disparities in the Massachusetts Criminal System", by the Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School, commissioned by late Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants.
This week, Ohio voters resoundingly defeated a ballot question that would have increased the percentage of voters required to amend the state constitution from a simple majority to 60%. Not only is that contrary to democracy, it would have made it harder for Ohio voters to amend their state constitution later this year to establish the right of every individual to make their own reproductive decisions, including contraception and abortion. Choice is always on the ballot, for every single elected position, including Governor's Council. A huge difference between my opponent and me is that I will never vote to confirm a nominee unless they are, like me, 100% pro-choice.
Into every summer of activism must come a little fun, and I can't tell you how delightful a surprise it was to see "Barbie" with my daughter Grace! Of all the great points it makes, one of them is that standing up for what's right feels great and can be even more fun than a party in a dream house! I was a skeptic, but it is a truly remarkable achievement in film, and a landmark cultural moment. Go see it.
I'm working hard now to lay the strongest possible foundation for next year, but I can't do this without all your support. Time is on our side, but we must have donations too. Please send a contribution today so we can reach as many voters as possible. Our real opponent is ignorance. Over 19,000 voters went to the polls in last September's primary, but did not vote in this race. If they had known what was at stake, they would have voted. Though we flipped 14 cities and towns, we came up short by an average of 50 votes per town. With your donation, we will reach those 19,000 voters, and win next year. Please give what you can. The impact of your support will be immeasurable.
Take Care,
Mara
