By Stanley Donald, Senior Law Clerk For Prisoners, MCI-Norfolk

There is no more common decency. It seems that the Department of Corrections has lost its way. There is nothing being done to rectify the after-effects from COVID in prison. Granting furloughs to prisoners would be a step to heal the mental anguish from the loss of a love one due to COVID and would allow those prisoners suffering from medical conditions to be with family. The prisoners who can barely walk and are slowly going blind are not a threat to society. [I hold my tears in because men don’t cry in prison]. 

When a man or woman enters prison for the first time the prison system breaks them down mentally and physically. Some do not bounce back to reality and some just roam the prison yard like zombies but furloughs can minimize the effects of institutionalization. 

Now with the new advances in technology, an electronic monitor or drone can keep precise track of those granted furloughs and diminish opposition for furloughs.  

Recently, the State Court of Massachusetts decided that those offenders under 20 years old serving life should be given an opportunity for parole, but what about those offenders over 20 years old? We need furloughs! 

Stanley Donald, Senior Law Clerk For Prisoners 

MCI-Norfolk