It boggles the mind that while rising crime plagues the city of Boston, Deval Patrick is looking to water down mandatory sentencing laws...
Gov. Deval Patrick has launched a comprehensive review of the state’s mandatory sentencing laws as officials say giving judges the discretion to impose minimum sentences may help them offer incentives to convicts to participate in rehabilitation programs, according to a report published Sunday.Ah yes, those incredibly effective and safe furlough programs... Perhaps Ben LaGuer would like to participate in a furlough program?Administration officials say the mandatory minimum sentences drive up the cost of corrections and deny judges the discretion to order the release of prisoners on good behavior, the Boston Sunday Globe reported.
This fails to offer prisoners incentives to participate in work release, rehabilitation or furlough programs outside their institution, said Mary Elizabeth Heffernan, an undersecretary for public safety.