MA Legislature’s Criminal Justice Reform Caucus Announces Legislative Priorities for the 2023-2024 Legislative Session
Caucus seeks to make progress on prison reform, improving re-entry, programming and education, racial injustice, treating people with mental illness and closing more prisons
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Legislature’s Criminal Justice Reform Caucus (CJRC) announced 17 priority legislations for the 2023-2024 legislative session of the Massachusetts General Court. From parole and re-entry to mental health and healthcare, bills reflect the caucus’s goal to further criminal justice reforms.
Building upon the Criminal Justice Reform Act, which was signed into law in 2018, the caucus continues to educate legislators and staff on issues related to criminal justice and the urgent need for reform. This session, members of the caucus filed legislation to ensure access to medical parole, establish a prison construction moratorium, improve accountability and regulate data collection, protect the mental and physical health of incarcerated individuals, provide education, rehabilitation and re-entry opportunities, and strengthen family and community connections.
For the 193rd legislative session, the Criminal Justice Reform Caucus welcomed 57 members. Co-chaired by State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and State Representative Mary Keefe (D-Worcester), the caucus carries out critical discussions about the Commonwealth’s criminal legal system.
“I am very proud to co-chair the Criminal Justice Reform Caucus for seven years with Representative Mary Keefe. We have already been very busy this legislative session with many pieces of critical legislation in front of us this session. The caucus’s work shows the legislature coming together to address inequities and make much-needed improvements to our criminal legal system,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge. “I am pleased to see so many of our colleagues join us this session. I am grateful for their work and advocacy, and I look forward to a successful legislative session that further reduces mass incarceration, improves public safety, better supports incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, and creates a more just Commonwealth.”
“Along with my co-chair, Senator Jamie Eldridge, and the other dedicated legislators who make up the Criminal Justice Reform Caucus, I am excited and hopeful for the 193rd legislative session,” Representative Mary Keefe stated. “We continue to work towards a more just and equitable Commonwealth. These pieces of legislation – by addressing a number of issues that plague those communities overly burdened by the criminal justice system – move us closer to that goal. We look forward to working with our fellow legislators, Governor Healey and her administration, and our community partners as we advocate for these initiatives.
The legislative priorities are:
Parole
H.2319/S.1535 An Act to ensure appropriate access to medical parole
By Sen. Jehlen and Rep. Domb - Factsheet
Prison Construction and Facilities
H.1795/S.1979 An Act establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium
By Sen. Comerford and Rep. Tyler
Data Collection and Oversight
H.1802/S.931 An Act improving juvenile justice data collection
By Sen. Creem and Rep. Vargas
S.1548 An Act establishing a correctional inspector general office
By Sen. Miranda
S.1545 /H.3646 An Act creating an independent correctional oversight office to facilitate the recommendations of the Special Legislative Commission on Structural Racism in Correctional Facilities of the Commonwealth
By Sen. Miranda and Rep. Holmes
H.1820/S.1011 An Act relative to compensation for victims of wrongful conviction
By Sen. Jehlen and Rep. Worrell
Mental Health and Healthcare in Prisons
S.1579/H.2350 An Act to ensure compliance with the anti-shackling law for pregnant incarcerated women
By Sen. Rausch, Rep. Khan and Rep. Sousa
H.2357/S.1499 An Act to promote rehabilitation including guaranteed health, treatment, and safety for incarcerated LGBTQI+ people
By Sen. Cyr, Rep. Lewis and Rep. Montano
H.1966/S.1247 An Act ensuring access to addiction services
By Sen. Friedman and Rep. Balser - Factsheet
Re-entry and Education
SD.2536/H.348 An Act relative to increasing opportunities for employment in professional licensure
By Sen Creem, Rep. Ultrino and Rep. LeBoeuf
S.959/H.1806 An Act to prevent the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences based on juvenile adjudications
By Sen. Eldridge and Rep. Moran - Factsheet
H.1789 An Act relative to prison reform
By Rep. Tyler
S.1493/H.2325 An Act relative to rehabilitation, re-entry, and human rights for incarcerated persons
By Sen. Creem and Rep. Fluker Oakley - Factsheet
H.515/S.1542 An Act to ensure educational rights are upheld for incarcerated youth
By Sen. Miranda and Rep. Keefe
CORI Reform
S.979/H.1598 An Act providing easier and greater access to record sealing
By Sen. Friedman and Rep. Keefe
Prison Visitations and Calls
H.2314/S.1541 An Act to strengthen family and community connection with incarcerated people (Strengthening Visitation)
By Sen. Miranda and Rep. Decker - Factsheet
H. 1796/S.1494 An Act relative to telephone service for inmates in all correctional and other penal institutions in the Commonwealth (No Cost Calls)
By Sen. Creem and Rep. Tyler - Factsheet
For more information about the Mass. Legislature’s Criminal Justice Reform Caucus, including the latest information on caucus members and priority bills, visit cjreformma.com.
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