A split between activists battling so-called “three-strikes” legislation played out in the City Council chambers on Wednesday. The Senate and House have both overwhelmingly passed bills dealing with elimination of parole for three-time violent criminal offenders in fall 2011, and Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed his own anti-crime package.
The House version is far narrower than the Senate bill and has drawn criticism and heated rhetoric from activists split between those seeking a compromise bill and those who aren’t.
District 4 City Councillor Charles Yancey offered a resolution opposing the House bill and calling for lawmakers and the governor to “slow down, study it.” Yancey, who asked for his fellow council members to support the resolution, added that three-strikes laws are “overly punitive” take away discretion from judges and unfairly affect communities of color. He acknowledged he wanted to propose a resolution that went farther in opposition on the issue.
City Councillor At-Large Ayanna Pressley called for a “more comprehensive” resolution, saying that the City Council’s responsibility is to craft one that is clear about what they oppose, as well as what they would support.
The council should demand a final version of the bill that eliminates mandatory minimum sentencing for nonviolent drug offenders and gives them access to treatment programs and job training while they’re incarcerated, she said, echoing the governor. The bill should also keep violent offenders off the street, Pressley added.
“You better believe that I want violent offenders off the streets and behind bars. I might be liberal and progressive but I have no soft spot for rapists, murderers and those who terrorize our neighborhoods,” she said. “At this moment, there is no House bill around sentencing reform. We should demand that any changes to habitual offender legislation be paired with common sense and compassionate sentencing reform legislation.”
After Yancey acknowledged he did not have unanimous consent from his colleagues to take up his resolution at Wednesday’s council meeting, the resolution was sent to the Public Safety Committee.
MORE: Conferee: Three strikes would likely affect as few as five people per year (2/2/12)
Foes rally against ‘three-strikes’ legislation (1/12/12)
Dot’s reps split as House passes ‘three-strikes’ bill (11/23/11)
