BOSTON, MA — There appears to be new movement in the push to place a five-year moratorium on prison construction projects in Massachusetts.
This comes after historic testimony on Tuesday, when, for the first time, more than 20 people incarcerated at MCI-Framingham shared their experiences within the Massachusetts criminal justice system.
To quickly get up to speed: Sen. Joanne Comerford authored the act that would place a five-year moratorium on any state or public agency studying, planning designing or engaging in any other process that would look to construct a prison or jail in Massachusetts.
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This also includes any entity looking to expand or otherwise alter a current jail or prison.
A similar plan had serious legs around this time last year, but then Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed it, stating that a moratorium wouldn’t allow the state to “maximize operational efficiencies.”
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Comerford called that decision by Baker “very misguided.”
Fast forward to Monday, when, in a renewed show of force, grassroots organizers and lawmakers alike took the stand in Boston to speak on behalf of the idea. Comerford, in her testimony, called it a “groundswell.”
“Yesterday the State House rumbled with calls to stop the construction of new prisons and jails, to invest in community-based alternatives and after-incarceration support, and to address the root causes of incarceration,” Comerford said.
Watch her remarks below:
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The day actually started prior to any testimony being delivered, as Families for Justice as Healing organized a rally in support of the legislation.
Organizers and lawmakers said $50 million that could go toward funding the construction of a new prison is, instead, better used if directed toward rehabilitation, reentry resources for those leaving prison and other community resources.
“Communities don’t need another women’s prison, and we need resources,” said Sashi James of Families for Justice as Healing.
In regards to the current legislation, Comerford said the moratorium uses proven measures to fight root causes of incarceration like a lack of affordable housing, employment, mental health services and quality public education.
“This legislation heeds the science behind alternatives to incarceration proven in study after study,” she said. “It heeds the science of medical parole proven to be effective, and the well-understood necessity of funding after incarceration support, as well as the work to address the root causes of incarceration.”
Though Baker was, in the final moments, opposed to the moratorium, there is hope for lawmakers this go around with Gov. Maura Healey in place.
In a statement to WBUR, a spokesperson from Healey’s office offered support for the idea.
“Governor Healey supports efforts to stop new construction of prison infrastructure provided it does not preclude the state from making critical renovations to maintain safe, modern facilities and attain quality programming and services.”
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