Public Safety Act 2006 Fact Sheet

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PSA 2006 and the Criminal Justice System

To help create a safer Massachusetts, the Public Safety Act of 2006 (PSA 2006) combines current legislative efforts in order to reduce recidivism, increase inmates’ access to rehabilitative programs, such as addiction therapy and vocational training, and end the cycle of crime, homelessness and unemployment by promoting a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) system that ensures the distribution of correct and pertinent information while protecting the public interest.

How does the PSA 2006 Improve CORI laws?

• By limiting records reported on CORI to convictions and open cases for private-sector users, and sealing CORI reports after 7 years on a felony conviction and 3 years on a misdemeanor conviction.

• Current CORI Laws allow for inaccurate information to be sent out, are difficult to translate, rely on dismissed cases and continue to punish individuals long after their court imposed sentences have been completed.

How Does PSA 2006 Help Create a Better Re-Entry System and Reduce Recidivism in MA?

• By creating a Certificate of Commitment to Rehabilitation — which requires CORI reports to include an offender’s time in rehabilitation services — inmates are encouraged to participate in programs both behind bars and in the community.

• 99.9% of Massachusetts inmates will be returning to the community, most will return to the neighborhood where they were arrested. Currently, MA recidivism rates stand at 40%, but individuals in re-entry programs are 15%-40% less likely to re-offend based on their criminal history and addiction severity.

How Does PSA 2006 Help MA Inmates Serving Mandatory Drug Sentences Obtain Addiction and Rehabilitative Services?

• By making inmates who are serving mandatory drug sentences eligible for parole after 2/3 of their sentence has been served we also allow them the ability to receive treatment while incarcerated for the last 1/3 of their sentence — there is a better chance at transitioning services from behind bars to services in the community.

• Currently, over 2,000 non-violent drug offenders are in prison under mandatory minimum sentencing; 89% of those are disproportionately people of color.

To get involved in passing the PSA 2006 call Brandyn @ 508-982-2247!

Honorary Chair

Senator Joseph Timilty

Participating Organizations

Cambridge Continuum of Care

Community Change Inc.

Criminal Justice Policy Coalition

Drug Policy Forum of Massachusetts

Episcopal City Mission

Ex-prisoners & Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement

Families Against Mandatory Minimums

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Juvenile Justice Center

League of Women Voters - MA

Massachusetts Alliance to Reform CORI

Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations

Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance

Massachusetts Jobs with Justice

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery

Middlesex County Prison Coordinating Committee

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - MA

National Association of Social Workers - MA

Partakers

Swedenborg Chapel Friends – In – Transition

For More Information

Brandyn Keating

(508) 982-2247

[email protected]