The governor has introduced new pointers round govt clemency that her administration says will assist immediately handle systemic racism within the felony justice system.
In making the announcement, Gov. Maura Healey additionally stated she would suggest two extra folks for pardons on high of the 11 folks she has already precipitated to be granted clemency with the consent of the Advisory Board of Pardons.
“Clemency is an important executive tool that can be used to soften the harsher edges of our criminal justice system. I am proud to release these new clemency guidelines that will center fairness and equity by taking into consideration the unique circumstances of each individual petitioner and the role of systemic biases,” Healey stated together with the announcement.
According to the governor’s workplace, for the primary time in state historical past, the governor’s clemency pointers for petitioners will embody her specific language acknowledging “unfairness and systemic bias in the criminal justice system.”
Going ahead, when reviewing a petition for clemency, the governor will take into account “factors such as the petitioner’s age at the time of the offense, health, post-offense behavior, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual identity, as well as whether they are a survivor of sexual assault, domestic violence or human trafficking,” in response to her employees.
The pointers are supposed to assist petitioners who’re contemplating making use of perceive what might be reviewed and help the Advisory Board of Pardons with evaluate of petitions.
Though it isn’t exceptional, it’s uncommon for a governor to contemplate, not to mention suggest, as many pardons as Healey has within the first 12 months of her administration. According to Healey’s employees, it has been 30 years since a governor issued pardons within the first 12 months of their first time period, and none in 40 years have issued as many so quickly as Healey.
“We’re grateful that Governor Healey sees clemency as a means to address injustices in the criminal legal system. Pardons and commutations are an important tool to not just improve individual lives but also to right historic wrongs, remedy racial inequities, and fix systemic failures,” ACLU of Massachusetts Executive Director Carol Rose stated in a press release.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”