Access to justice requires funding for the judicial branch that ensures clean, safe courts, and accessible and sufficient sessions for all cases to be heard in a timely manner. Indigent defense must be funded so as to ensure prompt appointment of competent counsel for those who cannot afford attorneys. The Sixth Amendment requires no less.
billxisays
Your president is leading you well in that regard.
lightirissays
to comprehensive K-12 education, skills training, and rehabilitation/therapy re patterns of criminal thinking.
grym-reepasays
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 99 to allow the recording and photography of police as they commit crimes. Require the use of properly working video equipment in police vehicles. Too often criminal police elements hide behind intimidation and perjury to subvert justice.
kirthsays
Transparency in government is valuable – in police interaction with the public more than in most government activity.
Hi,
HI,
Anyone want a bike ducati black in color of 2008 model in reasonable price.
onlinev Homes For Sale
frankskeffingtonsays
Two major factors impacting public safety is substance abuse and mental health and investmenting in preventive measures that address these issues will have a two-fold affect: Reduction in crime and a substantial savings in money.
<
p>A recent study indicates that investing $1 in substance abuse prevention saves more than $10 in societal costs. (It costs about $12,000 a year for a drug rehab bed, compared to about $40,000 for a prison bed).
<
p>I have a pretty crazy perspective on things…I voted to decriminalize pot and also understand that about 2 people die EVERY DAY IN MASSACHUSETTS FROM HERION/OPIATES. We need a completely different approach to drugs in society…one that recognizes we can’t change human behavior (how did prohibition work our?) but also understands that society has the right (and responsibility) to aggressively intervene with individuals that have imbalances that are the result of mental health or substance abuse issues. If you believe in the disease model of addiction…and I do…than you have to treat addiction as a long-term chronic issue and not with short-term “punishment” only.
<
p>If someone is addicted to drugs (and I’m including alcohol) and commits a crime…driving while impaired or robbery…absolutely punish them for the crime they committed. But address their underlying chronic issue. That means long term compulsory treatment. If a person has cancer, do we treat them for 6 months and tell them they’re fine? Or do they get regular check ups and blood tests for the rest of their lives? The same should be true with drug addiction–whether they like it or not. That means implementing long-term probation conditions for those arrested for heroin or multiple OUI offenses, which gives society the leverage WE need to force these people back into rehab if they relapse.
<
p>Oh ya, we need to invest BIG TIME in drug rehab programs in our prisons…particularly in the minimum security prisons where it is our last line of defense to prevent people who made some bad decisions from turning into habitual criminals that have no redeeming value to society.
socialworkersays
There are far too many obstacles for those who have committed a crime to rejoin society as productive citizens. Some suggestions to work on this problem would be true CORI reform. The reform that was promised was never delivered. CORIs should not include crimes for which a person was not convicted. CORIs are hard to decipher and leave people wondering if a person who was charged, but not convicted, if they were really guilty. There should be a reasonable time limit on CORIs for how long the CORI includes crimes. For example, if someone was arrested at age 17 for smoking pot, should that still be on their CORI when they are in their 50’s?
<
p>Probation/parole is a major problem. Why give conditions of probation/parole, if they are not enforced. better not to have them. I have worked with people who have violated the conditions 20 times or more with no consequence. No point to set a limit, if there is no response when it is violated.
<
p>SORI is another matter that needs to be addressed. We are all sickened by the nature of sexual crimes, especially when they involve children. But, if we are going to let these men and women rejoin the community there should be some avenue for them to rebuild their lives. If we believe they are such a risk to the community, then leave them incarcerated. Leaving them unable to work or to reside anywhere, setting restrictions on where they can stand, does nothing to reduce their risk of re-offending, and undoubtedly leads to many other illegal activities such as stealing, drug dealing, etc. let’s get smart on sexual offending, Remember that not all sexual crimes are against children and not all sexual crimes, are all that sexual, like urinating in public being cast as open and gross lewdness , which can result in making it on to the sex offender registry. Sex offender constitutes a broad range of behaviors. It might surprise some to know, that there are people listed as Level III who never even touched anyone.
<
p>Prison should be reserved for those who are violent and not for prostitutes or drug abuser, unless they are violent. We need to get creative about responding to criminal behavior, or we will bankrupt ourselves.
<
p>Unfortunately the political will is lacking to make thoughtful changes, lest someone be viewed as “being soft” on criminals, even when our approaches or unsuccessful.
<
p>Social worker.
midgesays
Massachusetts has been considered a state with tough gun laws, but there is one loophole in the current laws that should be amended.
<
p>The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security has recommended that gun dealers at gun shows in MA have access to the MIRCS so that all purchases at these shows have an immediate background check. This loophole in the law enables criminals and potential terrorists access to guns.
<
p>Support H.34 is important, it is currently before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. This will be an important step to reduce illegal access to guns in the state of Massachusetts.
socialworkersays
I am really surprised at the sparse commentary on such an important issue. Lots of responses as to whether somoe is a hack.
p>Civilized societies do not imprison people for life, with no chance of parole, for something they did as a child. But Massachusetts does – and we should stop it.
<
p>It is a national disgrace that the United States has not ratified the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child – mainly because we want to be able to execute teenagers, and also, I gather, because of objections by “religious” conservatives.
<
p>Research has shown that adolescents simply do not have the sense of responsibility and future consequences that adults have. But we allow a youthful mistake, admittedly sometimes a horrible mistake, to totally destroy the future of a child.
<
p>This is symptomatic of problems with our criminal justice system as a whole, which ought not to be a vehicle for vengeance. The US has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the world – and, not coincidentally, one of the highest crime rates. Rehabilitation, which should be the aim of juvenile justice, has become a dirty word. Judges are forever being criticized for “lenient” sentences. (When was the last time you heard a judge criticized for being too harsh?) Mandatory minimums imprison non-violent drug offenders alongside truly violent felons.
<
p>The Democratic Platform should come out strongly against trying children in adult courts.
Access to justice requires funding for the judicial branch that ensures clean, safe courts, and accessible and sufficient sessions for all cases to be heard in a timely manner. Indigent defense must be funded so as to ensure prompt appointment of competent counsel for those who cannot afford attorneys. The Sixth Amendment requires no less.
Your president is leading you well in that regard.
to comprehensive K-12 education, skills training, and rehabilitation/therapy re patterns of criminal thinking.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, § 99 to allow the recording and photography of police as they commit crimes. Require the use of properly working video equipment in police vehicles. Too often criminal police elements hide behind intimidation and perjury to subvert justice.
Transparency in government is valuable – in police interaction with the public more than in most government activity.
See my post from a few years ago, “Tough” on Crime, or LESS Crime?
tells me “we” are OK only until June of this year.
What say you.
http://video.google.com/videop…
Hi,
HI,
Anyone want a bike ducati black in color of 2008 model in reasonable price.
onlinev
Homes For Sale
Two major factors impacting public safety is substance abuse and mental health and investmenting in preventive measures that address these issues will have a two-fold affect: Reduction in crime and a substantial savings in money.
<
p>A recent study indicates that investing $1 in substance abuse prevention saves more than $10 in societal costs. (It costs about $12,000 a year for a drug rehab bed, compared to about $40,000 for a prison bed).
<
p>I have a pretty crazy perspective on things…I voted to decriminalize pot and also understand that about 2 people die EVERY DAY IN MASSACHUSETTS FROM HERION/OPIATES. We need a completely different approach to drugs in society…one that recognizes we can’t change human behavior (how did prohibition work our?) but also understands that society has the right (and responsibility) to aggressively intervene with individuals that have imbalances that are the result of mental health or substance abuse issues. If you believe in the disease model of addiction…and I do…than you have to treat addiction as a long-term chronic issue and not with short-term “punishment” only.
<
p>If someone is addicted to drugs (and I’m including alcohol) and commits a crime…driving while impaired or robbery…absolutely punish them for the crime they committed. But address their underlying chronic issue. That means long term compulsory treatment. If a person has cancer, do we treat them for 6 months and tell them they’re fine? Or do they get regular check ups and blood tests for the rest of their lives? The same should be true with drug addiction–whether they like it or not. That means implementing long-term probation conditions for those arrested for heroin or multiple OUI offenses, which gives society the leverage WE need to force these people back into rehab if they relapse.
<
p>Oh ya, we need to invest BIG TIME in drug rehab programs in our prisons…particularly in the minimum security prisons where it is our last line of defense to prevent people who made some bad decisions from turning into habitual criminals that have no redeeming value to society.
There are far too many obstacles for those who have committed a crime to rejoin society as productive citizens. Some suggestions to work on this problem would be true CORI reform. The reform that was promised was never delivered. CORIs should not include crimes for which a person was not convicted. CORIs are hard to decipher and leave people wondering if a person who was charged, but not convicted, if they were really guilty. There should be a reasonable time limit on CORIs for how long the CORI includes crimes. For example, if someone was arrested at age 17 for smoking pot, should that still be on their CORI when they are in their 50’s?
<
p>Probation/parole is a major problem. Why give conditions of probation/parole, if they are not enforced. better not to have them. I have worked with people who have violated the conditions 20 times or more with no consequence. No point to set a limit, if there is no response when it is violated.
<
p>SORI is another matter that needs to be addressed. We are all sickened by the nature of sexual crimes, especially when they involve children. But, if we are going to let these men and women rejoin the community there should be some avenue for them to rebuild their lives. If we believe they are such a risk to the community, then leave them incarcerated. Leaving them unable to work or to reside anywhere, setting restrictions on where they can stand, does nothing to reduce their risk of re-offending, and undoubtedly leads to many other illegal activities such as stealing, drug dealing, etc. let’s get smart on sexual offending, Remember that not all sexual crimes are against children and not all sexual crimes, are all that sexual, like urinating in public being cast as open and gross lewdness , which can result in making it on to the sex offender registry. Sex offender constitutes a broad range of behaviors. It might surprise some to know, that there are people listed as Level III who never even touched anyone.
<
p>Prison should be reserved for those who are violent and not for prostitutes or drug abuser, unless they are violent. We need to get creative about responding to criminal behavior, or we will bankrupt ourselves.
<
p>Unfortunately the political will is lacking to make thoughtful changes, lest someone be viewed as “being soft” on criminals, even when our approaches or unsuccessful.
<
p>Social worker.
Massachusetts has been considered a state with tough gun laws, but there is one loophole in the current laws that should be amended.
<
p>The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security has recommended that gun dealers at gun shows in MA have access to the MIRCS so that all purchases at these shows have an immediate background check. This loophole in the law enables criminals and potential terrorists access to guns.
<
p>Support H.34 is important, it is currently before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. This will be an important step to reduce illegal access to guns in the state of Massachusetts.
I am really surprised at the sparse commentary on such an important issue. Lots of responses as to whether somoe is a hack.
(I realize I should have posted this earlier.)
<
p>Civilized societies do not imprison people for life, with no chance of parole, for something they did as a child. But Massachusetts does – and we should stop it.
<
p>It is a national disgrace that the United States has not ratified the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child – mainly because we want to be able to execute teenagers, and also, I gather, because of objections by “religious” conservatives.
<
p>Research has shown that adolescents simply do not have the sense of responsibility and future consequences that adults have. But we allow a youthful mistake, admittedly sometimes a horrible mistake, to totally destroy the future of a child.
<
p>This is symptomatic of problems with our criminal justice system as a whole, which ought not to be a vehicle for vengeance. The US has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the world – and, not coincidentally, one of the highest crime rates. Rehabilitation, which should be the aim of juvenile justice, has become a dirty word. Judges are forever being criticized for “lenient” sentences. (When was the last time you heard a judge criticized for being too harsh?) Mandatory minimums imprison non-violent drug offenders alongside truly violent felons.
<
p>The Democratic Platform should come out strongly against trying children in adult courts.
<
p>