MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC DBA PRISONERS' LEGAL SVCS

PRISONERS' LEGAL SERVICES CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY THROUGH THE END OF THE FORMAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH BEGAN IN JANUARY 2023 AND ENDED ON JULY 30, 2024. WE ADVOCATED FOR BILLS TO (1) END LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE SENTENCING (2) INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH MEDIA AND RECORDS ACCESS (3) ADDRESS STRUCTURAL RACISM THROUGH COLLECTING RACE BASED DATA AND ESTABLISHING INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT MECHANISMS (4) IMPROVE THE MEDICAL PAROLE SYSTEM (5) END INCARCERATION SOLELY FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT (6) IMPROVE ACCESS TO PAROLE (7) CREATE A MORATORIUM ON PRISON AND JAIL CONSTRUCTION (8) CREATE A PAROLE SYSTEM FOR ELDERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE (9) ESTABLISH BASELINE STANDARDS FOR CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT TO PROMOTE REHABILITATION, RE-ENTRY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND (10) REFORM THE VISITATION SYSTEM. BILLS TO REFORM MEDICAL PAROLE, ESTABLISH BASELINE CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT STANDARDS, ESTABLISH ELDER PAROLE, REFORM VISITATION, ESTABLISH A PRISON AND JAIL CONSTRUCTION MORATORIUM, AND END INCARCERATION SOLELY FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT WERE REPORTED OUT FAVORABLY FROM COMMITTEE BUT DID NOT ADVANCE TO THE FLOOR OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR A VOTE. OUR BILL TO ESTABLISH NO COST COMMUNICATIONS FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE PASSED THROUGH THE FY 2024 BUDGET LAST YEAR, AND THIS YEAR WE WORKED ON ADVOCATING FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION. WE ENGAGED WITH LEGISLATORS, HELPED TO ADDRESS THEIR CONSTITUENTS' CONCERNS, AND SUPPORTED THEIR PRISON VISITS. WE DEVELOPED AND DISTRIBUTED INFORMATION TO INCARCERATED PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ABOUT DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, AND WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR DIRECT INCLUSION OF INCARCERATED PEOPLE IN LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS. WE ENGAGED IN EXECUTIVE BRANCH ADVOCACY ON EXTREME CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT IN THE PRISON SYSTEM IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AND EXTREME CONDITIONS AT THE MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON. WE ALSO BEGAN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH WILL BEGIN IN JANUARY 2025. WE DEVELOPED, DISTRIBUTED, AND ANALYZED AN IN-DEPTH CLIENT SURVEY TO HELP US DETERMINE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, AND WE ENGAGED IN A DECISION-MAKING PROCESS THAT CONSIDERED CLIENT PRIORITIES, PLS STAFFING AND EXPERTISE, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE, TO DETERMINE OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND BEGAN PREPARING BILLS AND ADVOCACY MATERIALS FOR NEXT SESSION.IN JANUARY OF 2024, IN BRIGGS V. COMMISSIONER, THE COURT RULED THAT DOC'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CLASS MEMBERS WITH EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO EMERGENCY ALARMS VIOLATES THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES AND REHABILITATION ACTS AND REQUIRED DOC TO SUBMIT A REMEDIAL PLAN. THAT PLAN REQUIRES DOC TO (1) INSTALL VISUAL FIRE ALARMS IN ALL DOC PRISONS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AND (2) IMMEDIATELY ISSUE INDIVIDUAL PAGERS TO ALL CLASS MEMBERS SO THEY CAN BE PERSONALLY NOTIFIED OF ANY EMERGENCY. PLS CONTINUED ITS LITIGATION IN DOES 1-17 V. COMMISSIONER ON BEHALF OF MEN WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OR CHARGED WITH ANY CRIME BUT WHO HAVE BEEN CIVILLY COMMITTED TO A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY SOLELY BECAUSE THEY NEED INPATIENT TREATMENT FOR AN ALCOHOL OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. OUR THREE EXPERTS IN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT HAVE SUBMITTED REPORTS EXPLAINING THE COUNTERTHERAPEUTIC AND STIGMATIZING EFFECTS OF USING CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES TO PROVIDE INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT TO THESE INDIVIDUALS.IN APRIL OF 2024, PLS SETTLED ITS CASE AGAINST THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD FOR $900,000 IN A CASE BROUGHT BY THE FAMILY OF MADELINE LINSENMEIR, A YOUNG WOMAN WHO DIED OF A HEART INFECTION. ALSO IN APRIL, THE COURT RULED THAT PLAINTIFFS HAD PRESENTED SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE FOR A JURY TO FIND THAT THE SECOND DEFENDANT - THE HAMPDEN COUNTY SHERIFF - HAS DISCRIMINATORILY DENIED MS. LINSENMEIR MEDICAL TREATMENT BASED ON HER OPIOID USE DISORDER.PLS ALSO HAS ONGOING LITIGATION CHALLENGING VARIOUS PAROLE BOARD PRACTICES, DOC'S VISITATION POLICIES, IMPLEMENTATION OF MEDICAL PAROLE, AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN A COUNTY HOUSE OF CORRECTION.