Sentencing Reform and Drug Policy Task Force
MBA lobbies for increases in education, training, and treatment programs
The MBA is advocating for reforms to the current sentencing system, including increases in education, training, and drug and alcohol treatment programs. In addition, the MBA believes Criminal Offender Record Information system reports, often used to check a person’s criminal background, should become limited after a specified period of years of no criminal activity.
MBA President David W. White Jr. announced the formation of the MBA-led Drug Policy Task Force at the MBA Sentencing Symposium at the Statehouse in October. The task force, which includes members of the Massachusetts health care, business and law enforcement communities, is looking into current drug policy and considering reforms.
Click here to read a sentencing reform opinion piece by White that appeared in The Boston Globe
Click the headlines from recent editions of eJournal and Lawyers Journal to read more about this initiative:
On Tuesday, MBA President David W. White Jr. led the first meeting of the MBA’s Drug Policy Task Force. More than one dozen attorneys, as well as civic and other nonprofit group leaders, were in attendance to begin the dialogue surrounding drug policy reform as it relates to criminal sentencing.
By Bill Archambeault and Jennifer Rosinski
Massachusetts could see meaningful sentencing reform for the first time in years, a number of distinguished panelists suggested at a Massachusetts Bar Association-sponsored forum at the Statehouse on Oct. 23.
By David W. White Jr.
Even if you are not a criminal defense lawyer or a district attorney, the problems with criminal sentencing are a concern for you. Perhaps it is crime in your neighborhood as a result of preventable recidivism. Perhaps it is your wasted tax dollars. Perhaps your clients are looking for employees, and cannot understand the CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) they have obtained, and they don’t know whom to hire or not.
By Jennifer Rosinski
Comprehensive reform to the state’s Criminal Offender Record Information laws are necessary to help those with criminal pasts turn into productive citizens, the MBA said at a Statehouse hearing Sept. 18.