A team of civil rights and prisoner rights groups are intensifying a campaign to thwart a statewide crime reform bill, saying the state should not rush into a decision on legislation that could send hundreds of defendants to prison without the possibility of parole.
The groups, in letters to legislative leaders, have particularly taken issue with the Three Strikes component of the package, which would mandate life in prison without parole for people convicted three times of certain crimes. It would also require a habitual offender to serve a maximum prison sentence with reduced eligibility for parole on other offenses.
Comments
As usual, the Globe gives one sided coverage to this story. A few profunctory quotes by bill supporters do not balanced coverage make. The Globe has never reported such major facts as the Mass. Sentencing Commission's review which found that this bill will add only 9 to 14 new inmates per year at a cost of less than $1 million. For over a year, the Globe has published numerous articles, columns, and op-eds opposed to this legislation while turning down op-ed proposals by bill supporters. No fair and balanced coverage here.