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On Wednesday, September 15, Governor Mitt Romney created a seventeen-member Department of Correction Advisory Council by executive order. This council is charged with monitoring the implementation of the many recommendations made by the On Wednesday, September 15, Governor Mitt Romney created a seventeen-member Department of Correction Advisory Council by executive order. This council is charged with monitoring the implementation of the many recommendations made by the Governor's Commission on Corrections Reform, as found in its report of June 30. Romney is appointing Scott Harshbarger to chair this council; Harshbarger, a former MA Attorney General, chaired the commission whose report is the basis for the anticipated changes within the DOC. Read more about this advisory council at: www.cjpc.org/doc_doc_advisory.htm

For the full text of the Executive order creating this advisory board go to: www.cjpc.org/doc_order_creates_board.htm

Not too long ago, CJPC intern Angela Antoniewicz dreamed of working for the FBI. "I wanted to be a profiler," she said. "Then I realized, 'hey, there are only like ten of them in the country,' so I had to adjust my thinking."

In altering her goals, Angela changed her address, relocating from her native Wisconsin, where she attended Ripon College, to Boston, in order to pursue a Masters of Science in Northeastern University's College of Criminal Justice.

At Northeastern, Angela has worked as a Graduate Assistant for a number of renowned professors, including serial killer expert, James Allen Fox, and Timothy App, who served as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Parole Board. The practical experience she has gained at CJPC has supplemented these experiences.

"I've enjoyed learning about how policy and legislation affect crime, and seeing how an organization like this works behind the scenes," she said.

Ultimately, however, Angela wants to move out of the shadows.

"I want people to know my name and face," she said. "I want to be associated with whatever I'm doing."

Specifically, Angela is interested in exploring the interaction of education and criminal justice.

"People always seem much more interested in punishing criminals than educating children," she said. "There's not enough focus on social inequality and lack of (educational) opportunities as precursors of crime."

Currently in her final semester at Northeastern, Angela is planning to start law school next fall. She hopes that the experience will expand her horizons and that the degree, coupled with the rest of her credentials, will afford her greater opportunities to pursue her interests, however they may develop.

One thing's for sure: There are more lawyers in the country than there are FBI profilers.

Angela interned at CJPC from June through the end of August, during which time she created the "DOC by the Numbers," which appears in this newsletter, researched and wrote on the state of civil commitment laws for sex offenders, and helped market our upcoming conference. We greatly appreciate all of her hard work.

The State budget was a hopeful vehicle for a number of criminal justice issues that the CJPC has been tracking. Senator Cynthia Creem (D, Newton) attached her bill providing for parole after 2/3 sentence served for non-violent drug offenses to the Senate version of the budget; it was accepted by that chamber. Representative Kay Khan (D, Newton), lead sponsor of legislation to create a Citizen Review Board for the Department of Corrections, was successful in getting a modified version attached to the House budget. Unfortunately, neither amendment survived the conference committee. However, for Creem's bill, the distance traveled represents a high water mark; legislators as well as those citizens and organizations who worked on this are to be commended for their level of success achieved to date.

The effort to create a citizen review board moved closer to success when the House passed a further modified version of Rep. Khan's bill on July 8th, which modifications are found at www.cjpc.org/cr_h_4457_versions.htm. The Senate defeated this version in a 22 to 16 vote on July 22nd. The Governor's Commission on Correction Reform recommended establishing a comparable board; on August 15th, the Governor has responded by creating an oversight board. (see article above).

A bill providing for Compensation for wrongful convictions for certain felonies passed both houses and was sent to the corner office for the governor's signature. The original bill, H.2506, introduced by Rep. Pat Jehlen (D, Somerville) was passed by the House last October in a modified version, H.4166. The House relabeled it 4255 (text of 4255 can be found, with H.5030 overlaid, at www.cjpc.org/rest_h5030_4255.htm) and sent the bill to the Senate. This past June, the Senate passed S.2392, a further revision containing several changes, which were, for the most part, improvements. However, in conference, the Senate backed down and the conference committee report reinstated the language of H.4255, but with a new number, H.4981, which both houses passed and sent to the governor on July 20th. Governor Romney subsequently returned the bill with several recommended changes. The Governor's changes are found at www.cjpc.org/rest_h5030_critique.htm. Upon return to the legislature, the bill was sent to the House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, where it resides as of October 11th.

CJPC is always looking for substantive topical articles to enhance the newsletter. If you're interested in contributing, please send us a letter, or email [email protected].