Commission on Structural Racism in Correctional Facilities

Members

Statutory Charge

An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth

Chapter 253 of the Acts of 2020

SECTION 110. (a) There shall be established, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws, a special legislative commission on structural racism in correctional facilities of the commonwealth. The commission shall investigate and study disparate treatment of persons of color incarcerated at state and county correctional facilities and determine the role of structural racism in those disparities.

(b) The special legislative commission shall consist of 17 members: 4 of whom shall be members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus and 1 of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts House Asian Caucus; 2 of whom shall be members of the senate to be appointed by the senate president; 2 of whom shall be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be the secretary of public safety and security; 1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association, Inc. or a designee; 1 of whom shall be the president of the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union or a designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, Inc. or a designee; 1 of whom shall be the president of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Inc. or a designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of Roca, Inc. or a designee; 1 of whom shall be the chief executive officer of UTEC, Inc. or a designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of Prisoners’ Legal Services or a designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, Inc. or a designee;1 of whom shall be the executive director of Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. or a designee; and 1 of whom shall be the chair of the New England Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association or a designee.

(c) The special commission shall conduct a thorough review of the policies and procedures in place at state and county correctional facilities, both as written and as implemented, to determine if there are disparities in the treatment of persons of color and if structural racism at these facilities is a cause of those disparities. The special commission shall also conduct a thorough review of the access to educational, vocational or other programming options for incarcerated inmates and if there are disparities in access for persons of color and if structural racism is a cause of those disparities. The special commission shall make recommendations to eliminate any disparities in the treatment of persons of color found at state and county facilities including policy or legislative changes.

(d) The special commission shall submit its report and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation to carry its recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate not later than September 30, 2021.