[Street] Take a moment to write statement to Globe re: 3 Strikes Bill
Daniel Mc
danielm at occupyboston.org
Thu Jan 5 10:34:30 EST 2012
Friends,
Please let the Globe know what you think about 3 strikes--even a brief
opinion statement if you don't have time to write something publishable.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Jean Trounstine <TROUNSTINEJ at middlesex.mass.edu>
> Subject: WRITE! Letters to the Editor re: 3X
> Date: January 4, 2012 5:11:53 PM EST friends,
>
> Yesterday the BOSTON GLOBE published a terrific editorial about 3X,
> basically encouraging legislators to slow down and take their time
> to get the best bill possible, and advocating for some important
> parole reforms. We would like you to keep the attention focused on
> this issue. Please read or re-read the editorial below and send a
> letter to
> letter at globe.com<mailto:letter at globe.com> or by fax (617) 929-2098.
>
> In your letter you should reference the date and title of the
> editorial and include your full name, address, and a telephone
> number for confirmation purposes. Letters should be 200 words or
> fewer, and all are subject to editing. THE KEY IS TO TALK ABOUT A
> SPECIFIC PART OF THE EDITORIAL AND NOT BE TOO GENERAL IN YOUR
> COMMENTS.
>
> This is extremely important so please, remember the GLOBE gets
> hundreds of letters a day and don't wait for other people to step
> up. DO THIS NOW!
>
> Media Committee
> Coalition for Effective Public Safety
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
>
> Don?t rush ?three strikes? before getting all the facts on crime
> Jan. 3, 2012-- BOSTON GLOBE EDITORIAL
>
>
>
> "To prevent hardened criminals like Cinelli from getting back on the
> streets, the Legislature is considering a ?three-strikes?? law that
> would deny parole or any reduction in time served to felons who have
> been convicted three times of any of almost 60 serious felonies. It
> would also bump up the amount of time that ?habitual offenders,??
> those who have been convicted of any three felonies, would have to
> serve before being eligible for parole, from half of their maximum
> sentence to two-thirds.
>
>
>
> The bill, at least in the version that has passed the state Senate,
> also contains reforms intended to balance out the anticipated
> increase in the prison population. It would shrink drug-free school
> zones, areas in which harsh mandatory minimum sentences apply, from
> within 1,000 feet of a school ? which is virtually everywhere in an
> urban area like Boston ? to 500 feet. It would reduce mandatory
> minimum sentences for drug possession, with retroactive effect,
> allowing some prisoners to be freed immediately.
>
>
>
> However, the legislation?s overall effect on the number of prisoners
> in Massachusetts is unclear. Prisoners? Legal Services estimates
> that, if enacted, it would impose up to $125 million a year in extra
> corrections costs. Further, there are no data to indicate how many
> of those ensnared by the three-strikes law will be petty offenders
> as opposed to the hardened criminals the bill targets ? let alone a
> statistical measure for how many drug deals happen 499 feet from a
> school rather than 501.
>
>
>
> Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Commission is set to
> release a sweeping review of statewide criminal justice policies in
> March. Lawmakers should wait the three months for that panel?s
> recommendations and then examine criminal sentencing in light of all
> the relevant statistics. There is no need to rush the patchwork
> adjustments in the current legislation.
>
>
>
> But legislators need not sit idly by until the commission issues its
> report. They should act quickly to pass one section of the bill into
> law, which mandates that the Parole Board use a computerized
> risk-assessment tool to help determine which prisoners are likely to
> reoffend. Had it been in place in 2008, it would have likely
> prevented Cinelli?s release.
>
>
>
> Aside from this simple measure, the Legislature should take its time
> to carefully study and comprehensively overhaul criminal sentencing.
> Three strikes may be a good pitch to voters, but state legislators
> need to be sure that the bill is hitting its target. "
>
--
Daniel.
Occupy Boston Outreach Committee
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