2023-2024 Legislative Corner
The 2023-2024 Legislative Session in MA has kicked off and there are solid pieces of legislation that can make a meaningful difference for incarcerated individuals and their families. While we do not think we can reform our way to abolition, legislators are positioned to enact policies that can reduce the suffering and economic exploitation of incarcerated people and their families. Call you legislators in support of these bills!
NO COST CALLS (SD1441 and HD822)
This legislation, which passed both the House and Senate last year before being vetoed by then Governor Baker, would make phone calls in prisons and jails free. According to a recent report by the Prison Policy Initiative, in 2021 the average cost of a 15 min. in state prison call was $1.80 while the average cost for a jail call was $2.33. Video calling rates are significantly higher ranging from anywhere from $5-$6.95 for a 20 minute video visit through Secures. According to PLS MA, families pay $14.4 million per year to communicate with their incarcerated loved ones.
VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION (SD1037/SD1464 and HD3153/HD3188/HD3938)
This legislation would restore voting rights to individuals serving a felony conviction, a right that existed from 1978-2000 until a ballot initiative inspired by then Governor Cellucci stripped them of that right. People who are detained in jails or are serving a misdemeanor sentence can vote, though they often don’t know they can vote or have access to candidate information or materials. This legislation would restore voting rights and is paired with legislation to amend the state’s constitution.
AN ACT RELATIVE TO TREATMENT, NOT IMPRISONMENT (HD3540)
This bill would require judges to determine whether a person would benefit from treatment for an alcohol or substance abuse disorder if they relapse while on probation rather than that person being incarcerated for violating the terms of their probation.
AN ACT TO REDUCE MASS INCARCERATION (SD752/HD2267)
This important legislation would allow all people serving life sentences to have a parole hearing after 25 years of incarceration and would be applied retroactively. More than 1 out of 10 people in MA is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, and the abysmal application of parole in our state has led to an aging prison population. There are no ‘public safety’ benefits to LWOP.
AN ACT RELATED TO REHABILITATION, RE-ENTRY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF INCARCERATED PEOPLE (SD1406/HD2972)
There is a lot included in this bill that is a direct response to issues that incarcerated people in prisons across MA have been dealing with such as contaminated water (notably in Norfolk), the DOC wide lack of access to educational programming, substandard health care, and the lack of out of cell time (rec time). This bill would mandate access to at least an hour of congregate programming per day, 8 hours of rec time per day (unless during emergencies), access to in-person visits per the guidelines, and a whole host of other changes.
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A JAIL AND PRISON CONSTRUCTION MORATORIUM (SD661/HD799)
Organizers, advocates, and legislators are renewing their push for a 5 year ban on the construction or expansion of prisons and jails in the state. The House and Senate approved the bill in 2021-2022, but it was ultimately vetoed by then Governor Charlie. This legislation would temporarily prevent the construction of a new women’s prison, which the state has been exploring since 2019.
