Attleboro High students go to the source for justice reform info

ATTLEBORO -- Tobey Reed's criminal justice classes at Attleboro High School were studying a recent prison reform bill passed by the state Legislature and decided to go to the original source for information about the legislation.

Working through State Rep. Jim Hawkins, D-Attleboro, Reed invited Rep. Claire Cronin, House chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, to speak about the bill to the students.

After all, she wrote most of the bill.

Cronin attended two of Reed's classes Friday, gave a summary of the bill, and answered a series of questions about its details.

She said it was a massive undertaken involving 250 meetings and taking in the opinions of hundreds of people.

The bill ended up being passed 144-9 in the House before getting the approval of the Senate and Gov. Charlie Baker.

Answering a question from junior Malik Pruitt, Cronin, D-Easton, told the students she is most proud of what the bill does for juvenile justice.

She said it focuses on handling disciplinary problems at the school level rather than sending young people into the juvenile justice system.

Junior Guuled Yusuf asked about preventing recidivism.

She answered that studies have shown that the earlier youths get involved with the courts the more likely they will become repeat offenders.

Most juvenile offenders also live in poverty and are victims of abuse so the goal is to treat those problems, she said.

The bill also allows judges to consider a defendant's economic situation when setting bail so people aren't sent to jail merely because they are poor, she said.

Student Cameron Griswold asked how the state will attempt to get inmates "back on the right track" after they get out of prison.

Cronin said there will be more ways to treat drug addictions and it will be easier to seal a criminal record to make it easier to get a job.

The representative was also asked what life as a legislator is like.

She said it is hectic, but every day is different, meeting with new people and handling a variety of issues.