[Street] [Occupybostonoutreach] Take a moment to write statement to Globe re: 3 Strikes Bill

angela giudice amgnsm at verizon.net
Thu Jan 5 14:10:20 EST 2012


thanks, katie.  i'll pass this around and do what i can to mosey down to the library on saturday.  nice to only have to walk a few blocks to get to a meeting.  hope all is well with everyone.  peace & solidarity, angela

--- On Thu, 1/5/12, Katie Gradowski <katie.gradowski at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Katie Gradowski <katie.gradowski at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Occupybostonoutreach] Take a moment to write statement to Globe re: 3 Strikes Bill
To: "Daniel Mc" <danielm at occupyboston.org>
Cc: street at lists.occupyboston.org, occupybostonoutreach at lists.occupyboston.org, movementbuildingob at masslists.org, check_your_privilege_ob at googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, January 5, 2012, 1:23 PM

I'm going to echo Daniel here.   PLEASE take a moment to read this editorial, send a letter to the globe, and share this with whatever lists you are on asking them to do the same.  This has been a big issue for Occupy the Hood, as well as a number of the other community organizations we've been working with -- the bill is a little hard to follow  (insofar as it invokes many minor changes) -- but is an issue that is swiftly evolving, and could use our support.

I'm cc'ing this to the movement building and anti-oppression lists, in hopes that people who have more familiarity can jump in and speak to the specifics of the bill.  There is also a town hall meeting on Saturday afternoon at the Dudley Public Library to discuss it -- 12:30-4:30 -- please share and try to make it!

Thanks, Daniel, for sharing this.
Best,
Katie 

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

**Use this email for all things occupy**











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