View this email in your browser December 2017

ORMA Newsletter Council | Initiatives | Affiliates | Volunteering Inside This Issue Criminal Justice Reform

Reminder about the Representative Council Elections

Day of Action in Solidarity with Puerto Rico

MA Democratic State Party Endorsing Convention

Automatic Voter Registration Lobby Day Criminal Justice Reform The Massachusetts legislature took a huge step forward in creating a more fair and humane criminal justice system. Highlights include: repealing mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug crimes

expungement of criminal records for minors

CORI reform

solitary confinement protections and programs

juvenile justice

bail reform

wrongful conviction compensation

compassionate release

diversion (including Restorative Justice)

reducing burdensome court fines

prisoner medical release

justice reinvestment House and Senate bills will go to conference committee and will be voted on in 2018. “It is important for ORMA members to weigh in with their State Senators and State Representatives to tell them how they feel about different parts of the bill,” said Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton). Read more here