Several speakers referred to the claim that three million, or half the state’s residents, have CORI files.

The hearing was called to hear the CORI bill filed in January by Governor Patrick. Although virtually every one in the room saw the Governor’s bill as a positive step, it was clear that the majority would rather take a bolder step.

State Representative Gloria Fox captured their mood when she said, “I’m here to say… [that in this bill] there is no language that secures real CORI reform for our younger residents.” She said her office had submitted such language to the Governor and hopes that it would be negotiated.

The Boston Globe endorses Patrick’s bill and the Boston Herald opposes it.

The case for stronger action was explained in a Boston Workers Alliance statement on January 12:

“In the second week of the New Year, Patrick released his CORI reform bill, which is milder than the popular proposal called the Public Safety Act, H.1416. 

"Still, Patrick's proposal includes key provisions to reduce the waiting period to seal a criminal record if an individual has maintained good behavior since the original charge.  Currently an extreme 15-year waiting period is required to seal felonies, and a 10-year waiting period to seal misdemeanors.

"Patrick's bill calls for reduction to 10 years and 5 years, respectively, while the Public Safety Act calls for 7 years and 3 years based on statistical data around the low likelihood of recidivism after 3 years of good behavior.…

“While advocates hail the Governor's proposal as a victory and a step in the right direction, there are glaring omissions in the areas of

• limiting employers' access to juvenile records
• removing dismissed and not guilty cases from a CORI
• removing the "box" on job applications that are used to weed out candidates before even considering their skills or the nature of their offense. 

"Because it overlooks these critical remedies, some community leaders are left skeptical of the Governor's proposal. This underscores the need for the public to pressure lawmakers to support the Governor's bill while demanding incorporation of these additional reforms.”

The State House hearing docket was jammed because tomorrow is the deadline for public hearings on all bills in the current Legislative session.

While today's media spotlight was on the casino issue, there were also pro forma hearings on the greyhound protection, marijuana, and income tax petitions destined to become ballot questions in November.

Boston Workers Alliance report back from CORI hearing

Wednesday, March 19— The Judiciary Committee Chaired by Representative Eugene O'Flaherty and Senator Robert Creedon held a Public Hearing on Deval Patrick's CORI Reform Bill #4476. Over four hundred people overflowed the hearing room, representing dozens of organizations and thousands of concerned citizens.

The hearing began with testimony from Governor Patrick, who highlighted the real needs for reforms. He noted that there are 20,000 people incarcerated in Massachusetts, and that 97 percent of these people will return to their communities at some point.

Patrick argued that the best reentry program was a job, and maintained that the Commonwealth would save millions if we are able to reduce recidivism ($43,000 per prisoner each year). Patrick also touted the importance of reducing the waiting period to seal CORIs. He emphasized that a person's likelihood of re-offending dramatically declines after six or seven years. His bill would reduce the waiting period to seal a felony from 15 years to 10, and the corresponding period for misdemeanors from 10 years to 5.

Senator Dianne Wilkerson and Representatives Gloria Fox, Willie Mae Allen, Linda Dorcena Forry and Steve D'Amico commended the Governor for taking a good step towards reforms, but argued that he had not gone far enough.

Senator Wilkerson called Patrick's bill a "CORI Repair" bill rather than real CORI reform. Legislators raised concerns over the lack of juvenile related provisions, the importance of "fair hiring" protections that remove the felony check box from job applications, a need to remove non-convictions and not guilty findings, and the importance of reducing the waiting periods to seal a felony to 7 years and a misdemeanor to 3 years.

The Right Reverend M. Thomas Shaw, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts also testified his support for more significant CORI reforms. He described the several hundred participants in a CORI Prayer Service that he officiated earlier in the day, and detailed the importance of redemption and second chances rather than this debilitating CORI system.

Organizations including CAP/CJS, EPOCA, Neighbor to Neighbor, MARC, CJPC and MLRI gave testimony calling for the favorable reporting of #4476, contingent on a few critical amendments. The hearing lasted from 1 until 7 pm, with the Boston Workers Alliance (BWA) being the very last to testify.

BWA Board Clerk Terri Hinton described her own exclusion from the health care field after successfully completing nine-month training as a nurse assistant, due to her CORI. Hinton called on O'Flaherty and Creedon to report out the bill with reduced waiting periods for sealing as it would directly affect her ability to get a stable job.

BWA staffperson Aaron Tanaka cited CORI sealing laws in other states, including Utah (7 years for most felonies, 3-5 for misdemeanors), Oregon (3 years to seal first felony offenses) and Michigan (5 years to expunge most first felonies).

He also decried the felony "check box" on job forms which leads employers to rule out applicants before reviewing resumes, holding interviews or checking references. Boston, Cambridge, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Los Angles are among the cities which have already removed the criminal records question from their job applications.

The hearing demonstrated sustained momentum and real dedication to uprooting CORI discrimination. At this point, it is unclear if Chairmen Creedon and O'Flaherty plan to report out the CORI bill this year.

Regardless, the CORI reform movement will continue to grow, and constituents across the state will hold these elected officials accountable until real relief is provided to the hundreds of thousands suffering from the CORI.

BWA website

BWA appeal: Call-in for CORI reform this week!

Tuesday, March 18th was the final day for Committees to hold Public Hearings on proposed legislation for the rest of 2008. The Governor's CORI Bill #4476 was among the half-dozen bills heard. The CORI proposal is being held up in the Judiciary Committee, and can only become law if the Chairmen of the Committee favorably report out the bill within the next several weeks. The decision to allow CORI reform or to stop it is in the hands of these two men:

• Rep. Chair Eugene O'Flaherty (D - Chelsea Charlestown): 617-722-2396 / rep.geneoflaherty@hou.state.ma.us
• Sen. Chair Robert Creedon (D - Brockton): (617) 722-1200 / robert.creedon@state.ma.us

After over 3 years of CORI hearings, tens of thousands of supporters, backing from the Governor, the Globe, the Sheriffs, the Bishop the Unions and 80 organizations across the state, call the Chairmen to demand action now!

"Hello, my name is ___________, calling from ___________. I am calling to ask Chairman O'Flaherty / Creedon to quickly and favorably report out a comprehensive CORI reform bill. While the Governor's proposal is a good step, it is lacking "fair hiring" protections that would remove the felony box from job applications. The waiting period to seal CORIs should also be lowered to 7 and 3 years, and non-convictions and juvenile records should never be used to deny a person a job. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I will be extremely disappointed with Rep. O'Flaherty / Sen. Creedon if he does not take action soon. There is no excuse for not reforming the CORI now."

Make your voices heard, please spread the word, and thank you for making quick phone calls to the Judiciary Committee today!