Boston – MassINC—a nonpartisan think-tank that has vigorously advocated for state investment in Gateway Cities over the years—has launched a new initiative aimed at better understanding and acting upon opportunities to make mobility a catalyst for economic development outside of Greater Boston. The researchers will look closely at opportunities to cluster residential, office, and other
Finding Common Ground
Recapping the Fourth Annual Criminal Justice Reform Coalition Policy Summit
Finding Common Ground The Fourth Annual Criminal Justice Reform Coalition Policy Summit brought together over 300 leaders on Monday morning at the Omni Parker House in Boston. The program, entitled Finding Common Ground, featured a two-part conversation on reform and reinvestment, presentations of new polling (slides) and research, and remarks from a diverse group of thought leaders. Representative Katherine
Report: Inmate levels down but spending keeps rising
At sheriff facilities, it’s one guard for every two prisoners
THE NUMBER OF INMATES in the state’s prisons and jails is going down, but the cost of operating those facilities is going up, largely because correctional institutions are adding more employees and paying their existing workers more, according to a study by MassINC. The study found that the average daily inmate population of state and
Correctional Spending Soars While Prison Population Declines, According to New Report from MassINC
“Getting Tough on Spending” Report Shows Waste, Inefficiencies in Staffing
The report, Getting Tough on Spending, an 18 percent increase in spending for the Department of Correction and county sheriff departments between fiscal 2011 and 2016, while the prison population declined by almost 3,000 or 12 percent. The research further shows that this growth is focused primarily on raises and new hires for correctional officers,
Boston reentry initiative hits the skids
Award-winning program to aid those leaving prison loses federal funding
BOSTON’S WIDELY ACCLAIMED prisoner reentry program, which is aimed at reducing recidivism by helping offenders who are released from prison with everything from employment and housing to addiction services, was quietly shut down last fall when a federal grant funding the efforts wasn’t renewed. The shutdown, which was never announced, is a big setback to
Massachusetts voters ready for major changes to state criminal justice system
The Topline
During his 1990 campaign, Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld famously declared he would “reintroduce prisoners to the joys of busting rocks”. That tough-on-crime stance was in keeping with the times. But now, Massachusetts voters are the ones ready to break new ground, calling for major shifts in the state’s criminal justice system. Most would like the
Mass. voters strongly back criminal justice reform, new poll says
Residents favor preventive measures over incarceration
MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS STRONGLY support reform of the state’s criminal justice system, including elimination of mandatory minimum sentences and a greater emphasis on rehabilitation and education programs than incarceration, according to a new poll. Two-thirds of residents said prevention programs for youth and job training and education for inmates should be higher priorities in addressing crime
New MassINC Poll: Voters embrace end to mandatory minimum sentencing, support second chance reforms
See Prison Contributing to Recidivism, Support More Aggressive Criminal Justice Reforms
Click here for the topline results. BOSTON – Massachusetts voters strongly favor judicial discretion over mandatory minimum sentencing and broadly support more aggressive reforms to the criminal justice system than are now being considered by legislators, a new MassINC poll shows. The poll and two new policy research reports on the state’s criminal justice system
Pollack takes issue with N-S Rail Link backers
Says it’s not inconsistent to pursue the link and S. Station expansion
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY STEPHANIE POLLACK said on Monday that she saw no inconsistency in pushing ahead with a $2 billion plan to expand South Station even as the state is spending $2 million to study the feasibility of building an underground rail link between North and South Stations. Backers of the so-called North-South Rail Link, including
“There is no issue more worthy of our efforts, and no time left for inaction.”
The MassCJRC Journal
Massachusetts is at a crossroads. For years, leaders at the highest levels of state government have been promising to take on comprehensive criminal justice reform; to mine the data, to develop policies based on what we need and what is proven to work, and to bring these proposals forward for a vote. In the summer