MIDDLESEX COUNTY PRISON COORDINATING COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

Next Meeting: Jan. 14, 2009, Guest Speaker: Lee Gartenberg

MCPCC met on Dec. 10, 2008 in West Newton, with Bill Bergquist, David Berkeley, Tom Crowther, Mary Ann Donaldson, Toby Frost, Marjorie Moerschner, Lynne Sullivan, Dorothy Weitzman and Elizabeth Woodbridge present. This was a business meeting.

Mary Ann, our chairperson, opened the meeting with prayers, including prayers for coordinator Carol Winton and her seriously ill daughter. Mary Ann is also greatly concerned about the appalling and worsening situation in Zimbabwe. She lived there for a number of years and has many friends there.

Cutbacks have been announced in state mental health programs, an especially unfortunate one being cutbacks in Clubhouses which give people struggling with mental health issues a place to go during the day and evening. This program is a lifeline for many. Evening hours have been eliminated and staffing reduced, and more people will likely end up in hospitals. Those who benefit directly or indirectly from Clubhouses, or who are aware of this excellent program are urged to call Governor Patrick.

The jail diversion program which has been very successful in Framingham and in other towns is to be eliminated. In this program, a social worker rides with the police when they are called to a domestic violence situation.

The MA Bar Association subcommittee on Drug Policy favors jail diversion programs, as well as elimination of mandatory sentencing for minor drug offenders and reducing the time when a minor drug offender can be eligible for parole from 2/3 of the sentence served to 1/2.

Toby and Dorothy attended a meeting at which the new Commissioner of the Department of Correction spoke to ex-inmates and inmates' families. He said he doesn't now have control over what happens to inmates after release, but a reintegration policy is in development. He is in favor of prison programs so inmates won't just sit around. There is a movement towards mandatory parole.

Tom reported that MCPCC had collected 2186 Christmas cards! MANY THANKS TO ALL! This allowed Chaplain Thomas to give each inmate two cards to send. Stamps are furnished by the prison canteen.

Attorney LEE GARTENBERG will speak to us at our meeting on JAN. 14. Come and hear him!

JAN. 14 at 7 PM, SECOND CHURCH IN NEWTON 60 HIGHLAND STREET, WEST NEWTON