Bill > S1560

This bill aims to promote equitable access to parole in Massachusetts. Key provisions include: 1. Requiring that at least four members of the nine-member parole board have experience in fields like psychiatry, psychology, or substance use treatment, and that one member be someone directly impacted by incarceration or parole. 2. Mandating public parole hearings and requiring the parole board to issue decisions within 30 days of the hearing, with at least five members present. 3. Expanding access to parole for prisoners serving life sentences, with a presumption of parole unless there is clear evidence the prisoner would re-offend. 4. Increasing transparency by making parole hearing recordings public records and requiring detailed reasons for parole denials. 5. Prohibiting revocation of parole for technical violations or substance use relapse, and requiring consideration of reasonable accommodations for prisoners with disabilities. 6. Requiring the parole board to collect and publicly report data on parole decisions, including demographic information, to prevent disparate impacts. Overall, the bill seeks to make the parole process more accessible, evidence-based, and equitable.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S1560