July 10, 2003
HEALEY ANNOUNCES CRIME COMMISSION
Bi-partisan commission will examine criminal justice system at every level
Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey today announced the creation of the Governor’s Commission on Criminal Justice Innovation, tasked with advising Governor Mitt Romney on cutting-edge crime-fighting techniques and ways to make Massachusetts safer for all residents.
“The Commission on Criminal Justice Innovation will be bi-partisan and take a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary look at the criminal justice system at every level,” Healey said.
She also noted that with the recent spate of killings, the commission will have a special focus on crime in our urban centers.
Healey said, “We will work together to refocus our attention on the needs of our cities. The recent loss of young lives and the tragic shooting of an innocent three-year-old girl playing on her family’s front porch are intolerable. It is painfully clear that the street terror must stop.”
Healey, a criminologist, who has conducted extensive research in a variety of public safety disciplines, said the new commission will bring together leaders from federal, state and local criminal justice agencies, representatives of human service, education, community and religious groups and experts in the field of prisoner re-entry.
“It is more important than ever to implement a coordinated, multi-agency approach to public safety,” said Attorney General Tom Reilly. “I applaud Governor Romney and Lieutenant Governor Healey for bringing together a broad range of professionals to take a fresh look at security techniques and develop a multi-disciplined approach to law enforcement in our Commonwealth.”
“I applaud the Governor and Lieutenant Governor for their leadership role in this critically important endeavor,” said United States Attorney Michael Sullivan. “By bringing together multiple agencies and criminal justice disciplines, we will ensure an integrated and coordinated approach to myriad public safety issues.”
The Commission will report its recommendations to the Governor by the beginning of next year, including possible legislative remedies as well as promising practices and innovations that can be implemented statewide.
The commission will include five different subcommittees to identify the best ideas currently in place both here in Massachusetts as well as across the nation.
The subcommittees will focus on:
Re-entry and Post Release Supervision
Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins, Chair
Parole Board Chair Maureen Walsh, Co-Chair
The subcommittee will examine the state’s current approach to prisoner re-entry and post-release supervision and make recommendations concerning how best to create a seamless continuum of services and safeguards.
Law Enforcement Education and Training
Undersecretary of Public Safety Robert Haas, Chair
The subcommittee will evaluate contemporary and relevant police education and advise the Commission on the development of continuing education curriculum. The group will also examine the best methods for training state and local law enforcement officers in areas of response, prevention and awareness, especially with their expanded role as first responders and defenders of our homeland security.
Forensic Sciences
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz, Chair
The subcommittee will evaluate the present state of the Bay State’s forensic science law enforcement community with an emphasis on the expansion of our DNA testing labs and the integration of all of our forensic science departments.
Urban Crime Strategies
Assistant U.S. Mary Ann Hinkle, Chair
Boston Police Superintendent Paul Joyce, Co-chair
This subcommittee has the dual task of researching crime prevention and intervention strategies for the state’s big cities. It will look to the best practices of programs already up and running in our cities with the goal of duplicating them in communities statewide.
Cross Agency Information Sharing
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Chief Information Officer Peter Quinn, Chair
This subcommittee will examine the uses of the latest information and telecommunications technology to enhance effectiveness, productivity and officer safety. They will advise the Commission on the best standards for data processing and work towards the development and coordination of federal, state and local criminal justice information systems.
Healey said the Administration will rely on the commission’s findings in crafting budgetary and legislative priorities for next year. Given the on-going fiscal crisis, the Commission, as part of its assessment of best practices, will seek the most cost-effective criminal justice programs and policy solutions. The Executive Board will review the Commission’s recommendations before they are forwarded to the Governor.
“Governor Romney and I both believe strongly that public safety is a top priority of government,” said Healey. “The work of this commission will ultimately improve the criminal system in Massachusetts for everyone’s benefit.”
###
Governor’s Commission on Criminal Justice Innovation
Executive Board
Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, Chair
Attorney General Thomas Reilly
United States Attorney Michael Sullivan
Secretary of Public Safety Edward Flynn
Health and Human Services Secretary Ron Preston
Senate Minority Leader Brian Lees
Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chair Thomas McGee
House Minority Leader Bradley Jones
House Criminal Justice Committee Chair James Vallee
Special Agent Ken Kaiser, Boston FBI Agent in Charge
First Assistant United States Attorney Gerard T. Leone, Jr.
Massachusetts State Police Colonel Thomas Foley
Boston Police Commissioner Paul Evans
Probation Commissioner John O’Brien
Massachusetts District Attorneys Association Executive Director Geline Williams
Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston Executive Director Harold Sparrow
Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee Chair Robert Gittens
Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance Executive Director Janet Fine
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.