patching...
Breaking: Lt. Gov. Tim Murray to Resign »
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Three Strikes Law

Browse By

Monday, July 30, 2012

House Rejects Governor's 'Three-Strikes' Amendment

Gov. Patrick on Saturday sent the anti-crime bill back to the Legislature.

Gov. Deval Patrick set in motion a wave of criticism when he sent back on Saturday, July 28, the popular "three strikes" crime bill on the grounds that it lacked sufficient provisions for judicial discretion.  Warning of possible unintended "unjust consequences" that can arise from mandatory sentencing laws, Patrick wrote in a letter to the Legislature, "None of us is wise or prescient enough to foresee each and every circumstance in which the new habitual offender provisions may apply." On Monday afternoon, the House rejected Patrick's amendment by a vote of 132-23, according to The Boston Globe. Patrick has not indicated whether he would veto a bill that doesn't have the amendment.  Belmont State Sen. Will Brownsberger voted against the …

In this Article:

Legislature Passes Three-Strikes Bill for Violent Crimes (in Beacon Hill Patch), Boston City Council Urges Changes to Three-Strikes Bill (in Beacon Hill Patch), and Boston's Sen. Chang-Diaz Votes Against Three-Strikes Bill (in Beacon Hill Patch)

Friday, July 20, 2012

Brownsberger: Three Strikes Bill 'Leaves Much to Be Done'

State senator one of seven in upper chamber voting against popular repeat offenders bill.

A bill that toughens sentences for violent repeat-offenders passed the Senate Thursday after having been overwhelmingly in the House Wednesday evening, July 18.  But in an op-ed sent to Belmont Patch, State Sen. Will Brownsberger – one of the seven who voted against the popular bill – said while more acceptable from the first draft of the bill in November, the measure "leaves much to be done" in overall sentencing reform before he can back it. "Our correctional system is overloaded and so is less capable of doing the careful evaluation of offenders necessary to identify those most likely to hurt people if released," said Brownsberger, who voted against the first draft as a member of the state House of Representatives before winning a …

In this Article:

Officer Maguire's Brother, Local Politicians Testify at State House (in Woburn Patch)

Got a Hot Tip?
 
 

Videos

 

Most Popular Articles

  1. Belmont High's Prom Goers Strut Their Stuff
  2. Belmont: Are You The Owner of 'Abandoned Property'?
  3. Former State Trooper from Belmont Convicted of Extortion
  4. The Week of Review: Cushing Village, Wellington Milestones
  5. Milestone: Belmont Planning Board OKs Cushing Village 'Envelope'

PSST! Want to Contribute?

  • Got a hot tip on news you think everyone should know? Tell us.
  • Just married? New baby? Make honor roll? Add an Announcement
  • Organizing that big block party or poetry reading? Put it on the calendar!
  • Have a great photo of your community?
    Add it to Your Neighborhood Gallery.