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Officer killing in Massachusetts stirring debate over parole policies

By Douglas A. Berman

As highlighted in this Boston Globe story, which is headlined "Outrage, restraint on parole inquiry; Governor, speaker differ on response to officer?s slaying," a high-profile killing by a (now-dead) paroled offender is stirring sentencing policy debate in Massachusetts. Here are the basics: Governor Deval Patrick, facing widespread anger from police chiefs and victims? advocates, pleaded for patience yesterday as his administration completes a review of the state Parole Board?s decision to free a violent career criminal who shot and killed a Woburn police officer last week. House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, however, expressed outrage at the board?s decision and vowed to make it a ?major focus" of legislative action in the new session. Appearing minutes apart on the third floor of the State House, the two leaders struck dramatically different postures as they spoke for the first time since the parolee, Dominic Cinelli, killed Officer John B...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on January 04, 2011 (boomark / email).