Just last month the BBA signed on to a letter expressing concerns about
fairness in the application of the new parole eligibility standard - all
part of its ongoing advocacy for criminal justice reform. When we opened our
mail earlier this week, we found a letter from the Executive Office of Public
Safety & Security saying they have taken our concerns into consideration and
look forward to our "continued partnership on these issues." In case you’ve been
under a rock, the BBA firmly believes mandatory minimums create individual
injustices, have caused severe prison and jail overcrowding, have increased
court congestion, and have unduly burdened the court system. The BBA's position
opposing mandatory minimums dates back to a vote by its governing Council in
1990. To see how our position has evolved over the years, check out our reports,
The Crisis in
Corrections and Sentencing in Massachusetts and Parole
Practices in Massachusetts and their Effects on Community Integration.