The 19-member commission, which was created as part of the
criminal justice reform law signed in April, will consider potential changes to
the current bail system, including the use of risk assessment factors to
determine when bail should be set and when defendants should be released
without bail. The commission will also evaluate
the setting of conditions for defendants when they are released, with or
without bail, and will determine if changes need to be made to ensure that defendants
are not impacted differently in the pretrial system based on their gender,
race, gender identity or other protected class status.
“As a member of the Judiciary Committee, Representative Harrington
was a key contributor on the conference committee that finalized the new criminal
justice reform law,” said Representative Jones.
“That, combined with her courtroom experience as an attorney, makes her
eminently qualified to serve on this special commission that will explore ways
to improve our current bail system to ensure equal and consistent treatment for
all residents of the Commonwealth.”
The bail reform commission is comprised of a diverse group
of legislators, court officials, attorney organizations and advocacy
groups. Among those who will be serving
on the commission are Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph
Gants, Massachusetts Superior Court Chief Justice Judith Fabricant,
Massachusetts District Court Chief Justice Paul Dawley, Attorney General Maura
Healey, and Probation Commissioner Edward Dolan. The commission will also include
representatives from the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the American
Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Association of
Criminal Defense Lawyers, Inc., and the Massachusetts District Attorneys
Association.
The bail reform commission is scheduled to file a report on
its findings and recommendations with the Legislature by June 30, 2019.
Representative Harrington represents the First Middlesex District,
which includes the towns of Ashby, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, Townsend and
Precinct 1 in Ayer.
