Who oversees parole in Mass? What motivates decisions? Does the outcome help the Commonwealth? Will the addition of another career prosecutor tilt the Mass parole board away from second chances?
JAILED FOR A MEDICAL GROW
Hull police targeted a couple for cannabis. Now the feds are pushing for a serious sentence.
SPECIAL FEATURE: THE FIGHT FOR LIFE IN MASSACHUSETTS
The Bay State has a fraught history of sentencing people to serve life without parole. Now lawmakers have a chance to end the bad deal Beacon Hill made to trade the death penalty for natural life sentences.
CT HIGH COURT RULING OPENS UP MASS GUN SELLER TO SANDY HOOK LAWSUIT
It could be years before the Newtown case works its way up through the Supreme Court of the United States, where it is inevitably headed. In the meantime, DigBoston and BINJ will continue to report on the firearm economy in Mass and to identify the politicians, including Baker, who speak out against harm while accepting money from gun dealers and distributors.
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE
Mass State Police and local law enforcement have spent millions amassing an arsenal of Tasers, but there’s minimal accountability for those doing the purchasing, or for those doing the tasing
ANALYSIS: WILL WARREN’S CAMPAIGN REFLECT THE BACKDROP OF HER LAWRENCE ANNOUNCEMENT?
While the perception of a polarizing political figure dominates the media narrative surrounding the candidate, Warren has shown that her positions and emphasis on popular issues can be a boon for her campaign.
A POTENTIALLY BIG STEP FOR SEX WORK SAFETY
While current law ensures that courts must go to great lengths to avoid the arraignment of sexually exploited children, loopholes remain through which young people in the sex trade can still be prosecuted.
IMPAIRED LAWMAKING: BAKER, DELEO, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT LOBBY FOR NEW CANNABIS OUI LAWS
In the midst of the media blitz about stoned driving, one might think that at least some outlets would note another story from a couple weeks ago, “Massachusetts banned from using [alcohol] Breathalyzer test pending reforms at state police agency.”
A BIPARTISAN BLITZ, AT HOME AND ON THE ROAD
While they’re in Washington, they ought to give members of both national parties a lesson on public relations, because this bipartisan buddy bit they’re milking in Boston has everyone from lawmakers to dealmakers applauding while everyone else either smiles and nods or pays no attention at all.
WHAT SENATOR WARREN’S MIXED ELECTION BAG COULD MEAN FOR HER PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS
Even if she isn’t everybody’s first choice, the prospect of a President Warren—a proponent of stiff corporate regulations, an increased minimum wage, student debt forgiveness, and single-payer health care—is still intriguing on the left.
