The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), in partnership with the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) and with many Massachusetts Reform rabbis, is asking people in Massachusetts to take action now on criminal justice reform. Rabbi Sparr has signed their letter urging our state political leadership to strengthen pending criminal justice legislation. Now it’s our turn.
Click here to go to the JCRC’s handy online tool that will call your phone, provide you guidance on what to say to your officials, and patch you through directly to them. If you would rather write to them or call on your own, you can find their contact information here.
The JCRC notes that “Right now, the most important name in criminal justice reform is Representative Claire Cronin. She’s chair of the committee that will be deciding what criminal justice legislation gets voted on by the MA House of Representatives.” Rep. Cronin has asked to meet with all members of the House to hear their criminal justice priorities, which means we should make our own reps aware of what we want those priorities to be.
JCRC and GBIO are asking that this legislation:
- Repeal mandatory minimum sentencing for non-violent drug offenses
- Reform the pretrial bail system
- Reduce or eliminate excessive fees and fines that contribute to high rates of recidivism
- Eliminate excessive solitary confinement practices
Thank you in advance for making your own opinions known to your elected officials.
Additionally, this Sunday, September 24, from 5 to 7 p.m., is the only public City Council Candidate Forum before Tuesday’s Preliminary, organized by Solidarity Lowell. Other candidate forums can be viewed on the Lowell Votes website. If you know of one that is not posted there, please email info@lowellvotes.org.