Law Enforcement Leaders Join CORI Reform Consensus

BOSTON/State House - Half a dozen top law enforcement officials held a press conference Tuesday expressing wide ranging support for CORI reforms passed by the Senate last November and pending vote in the House.

"Police chiefs don't sign on to this bill easily, because it appears to be soft on crime," said Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis. "But it's anything but soft on crime...It's smart on crime."

Law Enforcement Leaders CORI Reform Press Conference @ State House - May 18

Suffolk County District Attorney, Dan Conley highlighted the Senate's 'ban the box' proposal "where a criminal background check is the final step in the process, not the first. It allows them to get their foot in the door...and allows them to demonstrate growth, maturation and self-improvement in the intervening years."

Massachusetts Major City Chiefs Association (MMCCA) President, Dan O'Leary represented the Bay State's 35 largest city chiefs who endorsed reforms earlier this year. O'Leary expressed MMCCA's support for provisions that reduce felony sealing periods from 15 years to 10, and misdemeanors from 10 to 5.

Commissioner Davis noted that the changes do not apply those convicted of murder or sex-offenses, and would not help "frequent flyers," who would "not qualify for its provisions. But [reforms] will benefit those who were found not guilty or first time offenders who have demonstrated their rehabilitation."

Suffolk County Sheriff Cabral drew connections between employment and housing and the likelihood of recidivism. Cabral maintained that new opportunities could make ex-offenders "productive tax paying members of society, and not a drain...on public benefits or the $42,000 it costs to house someone in the House of Corrections." Cabral warned, "we will bankrupt our system if we continue to spend the money that it costs to incarcerate people across the Commonwealth."

Speaker Robert DeLeo has signaled that the House will vote on a crime bill in the month of May. The Senate version of CORI reform received the endorsement of major business lobby, Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM). The measure is supported by Governor Patrick.

Press Conference Endorsers:

Ed Davis, Boston Police Commissioner
Dan OLeary, President of the Massachusetts Major Police Chiefs Association
Dan Conley, Suffolk Country District Attorney
Andrea Cabral, Suffolk County Sheriff
James DePaolo, Middlesex County Sheriff
Brian Kyes, Chelsea Police Chief
Paul MacMillan, MBTA Police Chief
Matt Machera, former Assistant District Attorney