What to do with the state’s half-empty prison system

Ben Forman featured in CommonWealth Magazine

Policy Center Press Coverage
Mar 23, 2022 Policy Center Press Coverage

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Prison populations have fallen sharply and crime remains low in Massachusetts. Ben Forman asks what to do with the state’s half-empty prison system in CommonWealth op-ed.

Correctional Officers Can Lead the Way Out of the Tough-on-Crime-Era

Report argues steep drop in incarceration positions frontlines workers to provide rehabilitation

Policy Center
Feb 25, 2021 Policy Center

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Massachusetts has an unprecedented opportunity to make better use of limited public safety resources by reducing the incarcerated population and reinventing correctional practices with more leadership and direction from those on the frontlines.

Refunding Corrections

7th Annual Policy Summit | Event Recording

Policy Center
Feb 11, 2021 Policy Center

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Focusing on criminal justice information systems, MassINC and panel experts review efforts to increase transparency, improve data collection, and root out racial bias.

Rooting Out Racial Bias

Event Recording

Policy Center
Feb 5, 2021 Policy Center

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Focusing on criminal justice information systems, MassINC and panel experts review efforts to increase transparency, improve data collection, and root out racial bias.

7th Annual Policy Summit in Pursuit of Justice

Presented by MassINC and the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Reform Coalition

Policy Center
Dec 29, 2020 Policy Center

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Over the course of two sessions, will take a hard look at how to invest in dramatically different approaches to criminal justice with a shared sense of urgency and purpose.

FY21 budget offers a beacon for Justice Reinvestment

The Gateway Cities Journal

Policy Center
Dec 14, 2020 Policy Center

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The FY21 budget, which passed both branches last week, goes even further by creating a true “Justice Reinvestment” fund and capitalizing it with a $15 million appropriation. From job training and transitional employment to housing stabilization, a wide range of community-based programs are eligible for these resources.

With prison populations halved, it’s time for a reinvestment strategy

Jun 24, 2020

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All told, state and county correctional agencies maintain a complex of nearly 500 buildings with approximately 10 million square feet among them.

The evolving role of street workers in youth violence prevention

Gateways Episode 49

Policy Center
Feb 12, 2020 Policy Center

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This week on Gateways, Ben learns about the role of street workers in public health focused youth violence prevention efforts. UTEC’s Geoff Foster, Nichelle Sadler, and Leslie Rivera share their experiences as street workers.

Community corrections centers poised to offer much needed reentry support

Gateways Episode 28

Policy Center
Aug 13, 2019 Policy Center

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When the state budget passed last month, it included provisions that better equip community corrections centers to provide reentry services. This week on Gateways, Ben sits down with Vin Lorenti, Director of Community Corrections at the Massachusetts Probation Service.

Sixth Annual Massachusetts Criminal Justice Reform Coalition Policy Summit

Event Recap

Policy Center
Jun 21, 2019 Policy Center

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Spring has been a whirlwind of activity. Amid it all, the Sixth Annual Massachusetts Criminal Justice Reform Coalition Summit stands out as a bright point. This year’s theme, Learning from Early Accomplishments in Young Adult Justice, drew a large crowd to the UMass Club on May 23rd, where speakers and attendees exchanged a wide range of