Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, May. 27, 2010
Legislative News
CORI Reform enacted in the House; Senate adopts Probation Amendment
Yesterday, the House of Representatives enacted legislation that
would reform Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information
(CORI) laws to limit access, provide greater accuracy, seal records
earlier and provide greater clarity in the reports.
The Senate passed a broader version of the bill late last year.
The Senate version, in addition to reforming CORI laws, contains
MBA-backed provisions that would grant parole eligibility for
certain non-violent drug offenders. It would also grant eligibility
for work release programs. Both bills will now be sent to a
conference committee where the differences will be worked out
between them. The MBA will continue to make the case for parole and
work release eligibility with the conference committee.
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Senate adopts Probation
Amendment
Yesterday the Senate adopted an amendment to its version of the
state budget that would reform the probation department in the wake
of the Spotlight Series in the Boston Globe earlier this
week. The amendment, filed by Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem, would limit
the appointment of the Commissioner of Probation to a five-year
term, would place probation staffing decisions in the hands of the
Commissioner of Probation with the approval of the Chief Justice
for Administration and Management (CJAM), and would grant
transferability to the CJAM. The Senate plan would also establish a
task force to make a recommendation on whether the probation
department should remain with the judicial branch, move to the
executive branch or offer an alternative. The MBA has a seat on the
task force. The Senate is expected to wrap up its budget debate
tomorrow. The House completed work on its budget last month. The
House budget does not contain the same probation department
language as the Senate. A conference committee will be appointed
and the differences between the two budgets will be worked out.
For More Information Contact Lee Ann Constantine, Legislative
Activities Manager at [e-mail lconstantine]