Clergy attacks stalled crime bill

WWLP TV

Updated: Feb 3, 2012 6:24 PM

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) — Religious leaders are speaking out against a crime bill that bars three-time convicted violent offenders from parole.

 “Why are the prisons full or poor people and racial minorities?” asked Harold Adams, Committee of Friends and Relatives of Prisoners.

“This is a racist bill targeting communities of color, going after low-income communities to incarcerate people and ...build this prison industrial complex,” said Rev. Jason Lydon of the Community Church of Boston.

Critics say the crime bill focuses on incarceration, generalizes offenders and doesn’t address prevention or the social and economic reasons people commit crimes in the first place.

“The prisoners are not getting rehabilitated, so they commit a crime, they go in prison and stay, what? 10 years? 8 years?  Whatever.  But no one has dealt with their issues,” said Clovis Turner, associate pastor at Grace Church of All Nations.

A conference committee of 6 lawmakers met Friday  to discuss consolidating House and Senate-passed versions of the crime bill.  They agree that felons should be banned from parole on their third conviction, but that mandatory minimum sentences should be scaled back for non-violent drug offenders.  They disagree on how comprehensive the crime bill should be.  For example, the Senate’s crime bill includes provisions on wire tapping and drug offenses in school zones – Provisions that the House has not considered. 

“There are many other issues that [the Senate] attached that I’ve termed an omnibus crime bill,” said Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty (D-Chelsea).  “[House members] haven’t had an opportunity to fully engage in a process like [the Senate] have had.”

The bill was passed by both branches in late November, but until they can unify the bill, it remains a work in progress.

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