Massachusetts' Prisons

I agree with Scott Harshbarger: the State does not need another "blue-ribbon commission" to look into the problems of our prisons (State orders review over prison errors, Boston Globe, April 23, 2007, pp:A1, B3). His commission undertook a sweeping review two years ago. Most of its recommendations sit on the shelf.

The Patrick administration is avoiding the issue by proposing a new commission. It knows what the problems are. If it does not, it had no business asking the previous commissioner to leave her post.

The solutions to those problems are found in the report of the Harshbarger commission. The Patrick administration must take the tough decisions to implement those solutions.

Sent to Boston Globe