MIDDLESEX COUNTY PRISON COORDINATING COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

MCPCC met on April 12, 2006 in West Newton, with Mary Ann Donaldson, Beverly Wilkins, Tom Crowther, Elizabeth Woodbridge, Dorothy Weitzman, Bill Bergquist, Toby Frost and Marjorie Moerschner present.

Mary Ann reported that we are beginning to get a number of promising resumes for the position of coordinator. Some of have come in as a result of the advertisement that Tom put in a number of community newspapers, and some are the result of networking by committee members. Mary Ann will arrange for interviews.

Beverly urged us to think about how we view the mission of MCPCC, about how we have evolved and where we think we could and should go. We want the interviews to be helpful and informative for both interviewers and interviewees. Committee members will share thoughts and suggestions by e-mail or phone before the first interview.

We discussed scheduling for the Art Show. It is proving to be difficult to find a weekend in June that will work for all the people involved. We will keep you informed. Beverly is in touch with Meredith McKay, Administrative Assistant of the Lowell Community Corrections Center where the art show will be held.

Tom had brought in seven more pieces of artwork done by Billerica inmates and we voted on those to receive prizes. Tom will take them to be framed, along with those already selected. Framing will take two weeks.

Dorothy told us about a sentencing and CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) education day plus rally at the Statehouse on April 20 that she will attend. This is in support of CORI reforms and mandatory minimum sentencing reforms. Lee Gartenburg spoke about CORI and mandatory minimums at our February meeting; he feels both are in urgent need of reform.

CORI reforms would include limiting access to these records- at present, for $25., anyone can get this information on anyone. It would also require fingerprint verification when information is entered under a person's name. This would help to prevent one's name from being wrongly computer-matched with that of someone with a criminal record.

If you are in favor of CORI reform, please call your state rep. and senator.

The Criminal Justice Policy Coalition, of which Dorothy is the acting chair, will have its annual meeting on May 23.

Lanny Kutakoff, Executive Director of Partakers, will be the guest speaker at our May 10 meeting.

NEXT MEETING: MAY 10, 2006 at 7 PM

SECOND CHURCH IN NEWTON 60 HIGHLAND STREET, WEST NEWTON