Very honored to speak with @taniel.bsky.social for this @bolts.bsky.social story on my race to be the first public defender on the MA Governor’s Council, which confirms our judges, Parole Board members, and commutations and pardons. #cjreform #law
A public defender ousted a 25-year incumbent in September, in the Massachusetts Dem primary for a seat on a critical but little-known body that confirms judicial nominees.
I talked to her on how she wants to use the seat to overhaul the judiciary & change mindsets on incarceration.
I talked to her on how she wants to use the seat to overhaul the judiciary & change mindsets on incarceration.
The Public Defender Who Just Won Power Over Confirming Massachusetts Judges
Mara Dolan ousted a 25-year incumbent to become the first public defender to join the Massachusetts governor’s council, which she calls the “gateway to the entire judicial branch.”
boltsmag.org
November 20, 2024 at 1:06 AM
Very honored to speak with @taniel.bsky.social for this @bolts.bsky.social story on my race to be the first public defender on the MA Governor’s Council, which confirms our judges, Parole Board members, and commutations and pardons. #cjreform #law
960 people in MA are serving life without parole—that's 17% of our prison population, the highest in the nation. While research shows these individuals pose minimal risk to public safety when released, Massachusetts spends $140,000+ per person annually to keep them behind bars until they die.
July 3, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Proud to Stand with @TzedekAssociartion & @fetterman.senate.gov to support #CJReform, #IVF, #StandWithIsrael & #EndJewHatred
Champion of Common Sense
Champion of Common Sense
January 14, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Proud to Stand with @TzedekAssociartion & @fetterman.senate.gov to support #CJReform, #IVF, #StandWithIsrael & #EndJewHatred
Champion of Common Sense
Champion of Common Sense
This is why bipartisan #cjreform finally ended in Texas. It became impossible to agree across the aisle because, the moment a liberal agreed w/ a conservative -- on pot, bail, ending Class C arrests, etc. -- the right wingers wd change their position. It all just became tiresome and dumb.
This is true, but part of it is the rootless, reactionary pathology of conservatives. They can't have common ground with others, can't admit common dangers like COVID & climate change. To be a conservative is to automatically reject what liberals believe, even if that means rejecting reality itself.
"[A] core emotion of modern conservatism: wallowing in terror of largely imaginary dangers. But there is a very real project behind their trembling cowardice—the violent subjugation of liberal cities." - @ryanlcooper.com on how wingnuts create permission structure 2 inflict harm on people they hate.
August 16, 2025 at 2:12 PM
This is why bipartisan #cjreform finally ended in Texas. It became impossible to agree across the aisle because, the moment a liberal agreed w/ a conservative -- on pot, bail, ending Class C arrests, etc. -- the right wingers wd change their position. It all just became tiresome and dumb.
As somebody who for two decades constructed actual bipartisan, red-state coalitions to pass numerous #cjreform bills, speaking to "real America" is about speaking to values over identity. But you don't have to squelch identity conversations. You just have to make sure the values messages get out. 🧵
These people always pitch themselves as savvy Real America Whisperers but constantly talking about how Republicans are right and Democrats are annoying is abysmal electoral strategy.
Talk about how minorities aren't a threat, billionaires are!
Talk about how minorities aren't a threat, billionaires are!
November 15, 2025 at 7:34 PM
As somebody who for two decades constructed actual bipartisan, red-state coalitions to pass numerous #cjreform bills, speaking to "real America" is about speaking to values over identity. But you don't have to squelch identity conversations. You just have to make sure the values messages get out. 🧵
This is not new, but Dems didn't complain when Obama launched the program in his second term, then Biden expanded it, and now it's being misused, as plenty of #cjreform folks predicted when it rolled out.
Border Patrol is spying on citizens who drive in the US and pulling over anyone they deem suspicious. They are desperately trying to hide it from the public. apnews.com/article/immi...
Border Patrol is monitoring US drivers and detaining those with 'suspicious' travel patterns
The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.
apnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
This is not new, but Dems didn't complain when Obama launched the program in his second term, then Biden expanded it, and now it's being misused, as plenty of #cjreform folks predicted when it rolled out.
Just a week away from @floridapolicy.bsky.social's 2026 #FloridaPolicySummit! Looking forward to joining my colleagues about what smarter approaches to meaningful #CJReform can look like in #Florida. See you there: www.floridapolicy.org/speakers/mic...
Florida Policy Institute
www.floridapolicy.org
September 10, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Just a week away from @floridapolicy.bsky.social's 2026 #FloridaPolicySummit! Looking forward to joining my colleagues about what smarter approaches to meaningful #CJReform can look like in #Florida. See you there: www.floridapolicy.org/speakers/mic...
This is a weird race for me bc I know both candidates well. Brigid's husband was my business partner for roughly a decade in the '90s, and Marzullo and I worked together closely on #cjreform for years at the #txlege. But Brigid's time has past. Mandy is the clear, progressive choice.
August 19, 2025 at 1:37 PM
For 2026, we are excited to announce our endorsement of Ryan Treviño for US House Dist. #TX28 for his commitment to #ClimateAction via a #GND & a 4 pillar sustainable future via populist policies like #CeasefireNOW, #M4A, #CancelStudentDebt, #TaxTheRich, #CJReform, and more!
December 17, 2024 at 11:36 PM
For 2026, we are excited to announce our endorsement of Ryan Treviño for US House Dist. #TX28 for his commitment to #ClimateAction via a #GND & a 4 pillar sustainable future via populist policies like #CeasefireNOW, #M4A, #CancelStudentDebt, #TaxTheRich, #CJReform, and more!
It was inspiring to attend the Governor’s Councillors Swearing-in at the State House today, including progressive & public defender @maradolan.bsky.social
The Council plays a critical role not just in confirming judges, but advocating for #cjreform, including in our prisons, courts & Parole Board.
The Council plays a critical role not just in confirming judges, but advocating for #cjreform, including in our prisons, courts & Parole Board.
January 2, 2025 at 10:10 PM
It was inspiring to attend the Governor’s Councillors Swearing-in at the State House today, including progressive & public defender @maradolan.bsky.social
The Council plays a critical role not just in confirming judges, but advocating for #cjreform, including in our prisons, courts & Parole Board.
The Council plays a critical role not just in confirming judges, but advocating for #cjreform, including in our prisons, courts & Parole Board.
Walnut living her best life. Come for the cute dog pics, stay for the hot takes on criminal justice reform. We can make racial disparity in our courts a thing of the past. Does this thing have #hashtags? #mapoli #cjreform
August 23, 2023 at 10:52 AM
Walnut living her best life. Come for the cute dog pics, stay for the hot takes on criminal justice reform. We can make racial disparity in our courts a thing of the past. Does this thing have #hashtags? #mapoli #cjreform
I identify w/ the German ski jumper w/ a paralyzing fear of heights who for some reason chose a profession that triggered it. These are my people.
I loved the research/policy-wonk parts of #cjreform; I enjoyed the public-facing parts abt as much as visits to my maternal grandpa's rendering plant.
I loved the research/policy-wonk parts of #cjreform; I enjoyed the public-facing parts abt as much as visits to my maternal grandpa's rendering plant.
February 17, 2026 at 12:33 AM
I identify w/ the German ski jumper w/ a paralyzing fear of heights who for some reason chose a profession that triggered it. These are my people.
I loved the research/policy-wonk parts of #cjreform; I enjoyed the public-facing parts abt as much as visits to my maternal grandpa's rendering plant.
I loved the research/policy-wonk parts of #cjreform; I enjoyed the public-facing parts abt as much as visits to my maternal grandpa's rendering plant.
So-called "compassionate release" policies seem great - and we should want people nearing end of life to be out of prison and with loved ones - but the reality is complicated for two reasons: (1) carve-outs and (2) implementation. 1/5
#criminaljustice #criminology #crimsky #cjreform #corrections
#criminaljustice #criminology #crimsky #cjreform #corrections
Terminally Ill People Languish in North Carolina Prisons, Even After Reforms
State lawmakers expanded the law for people seeking medical release from prison, but eligibility remains limited.
boltsmag.org
January 10, 2025 at 10:06 PM
So-called "compassionate release" policies seem great - and we should want people nearing end of life to be out of prison and with loved ones - but the reality is complicated for two reasons: (1) carve-outs and (2) implementation. 1/5
#criminaljustice #criminology #crimsky #cjreform #corrections
#criminaljustice #criminology #crimsky #cjreform #corrections
With the #Democratic primary on Sept. 1st, I strongly support @marianryanforda.bsky.social! Marian has been a key ally on #cjreform, #policereform, #domesticviolence prevention and especially this session, comprehensive legislation to protect immigrants. Vote early for Marian for DA! #mapoli
August 22, 2026 at 5:13 PM
With the #Democratic primary on Sept. 1st, I strongly support @marianryanforda.bsky.social! Marian has been a key ally on #cjreform, #policereform, #domesticviolence prevention and especially this session, comprehensive legislation to protect immigrants. Vote early for Marian for DA! #mapoli
For a couple of cycles, Just Liberty had a bipartisan (really transpartisan) campaign to put #cjreform in both state party platforms. On abortion/culture war stuff they openly acknowledged demanding unconstitutional things, either as base-rallying symbols or hoping to challenge precedents.
Exploring areas of #cjreform agreement between Texas Dem and GOP state party platforms
So, the results of Just Liberty's "Justice Needs a Platform" campaign are in and - having adumbrated reform measures in the criminal-justice...
gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com
February 21, 2026 at 2:06 PM
For a couple of cycles, Just Liberty had a bipartisan (really transpartisan) campaign to put #cjreform in both state party platforms. On abortion/culture war stuff they openly acknowledged demanding unconstitutional things, either as base-rallying symbols or hoping to challenge precedents.
Spoken like someone who has never paid attention to consent decrees at local police departments for the last 40-50 years.
A lot of the precedents for sweeping aside moral/legal constraints on government were pioneered in bipartisan opposition to #cjreform, and now those tactics have metastasized.
A lot of the precedents for sweeping aside moral/legal constraints on government were pioneered in bipartisan opposition to #cjreform, and now those tactics have metastasized.
Pretty sad times we live in when it’s news that the government has agreed to follow a court order.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — US government says ICE doesn't plan to detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia again as long as judge's order banning it stands.
December 31, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Spoken like someone who has never paid attention to consent decrees at local police departments for the last 40-50 years.
A lot of the precedents for sweeping aside moral/legal constraints on government were pioneered in bipartisan opposition to #cjreform, and now those tactics have metastasized.
A lot of the precedents for sweeping aside moral/legal constraints on government were pioneered in bipartisan opposition to #cjreform, and now those tactics have metastasized.
You and Elizabeth are both correct. She's right no Dem candidate ever ran on the slogans you're irate about, and punching left over them in 2025 mirrors rightwing rhetorical strategies more than reality. You're right most Dems DGAF about #cjreform and under Biden threw the movement under the bus.
November 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
You and Elizabeth are both correct. She's right no Dem candidate ever ran on the slogans you're irate about, and punching left over them in 2025 mirrors rightwing rhetorical strategies more than reality. You're right most Dems DGAF about #cjreform and under Biden threw the movement under the bus.
Toward the end of session, a #cjreform volunteer was talking to a lobbyist for a competing police union, while waiting around at the capitol. "What's the difference btwn y'all and CLEAT?" he asked, just to kill the time. "We're mostly pretty similar," the old cop replied, "except that we don't lie."
June 2, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Toward the end of session, a #cjreform volunteer was talking to a lobbyist for a competing police union, while waiting around at the capitol. "What's the difference btwn y'all and CLEAT?" he asked, just to kill the time. "We're mostly pretty similar," the old cop replied, "except that we don't lie."
Biden commutes sentences of nearly 2,500 convicted of non-violent drug offenses to correct “disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.” #cjreform www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/17/n...
Biden sets record by commuting sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted on nonviolent drug charges - The Boston Globe
“Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements ...
www.bostonglobe.com
January 17, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Biden commutes sentences of nearly 2,500 convicted of non-violent drug offenses to correct “disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.” #cjreform www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/17/n...
As an American, I don't particularly have a dog in the fight. But as a #cjreform guy, I appreciated the version w/ prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, who was on the fiver bf Churchill.
March 17, 2026 at 11:34 AM
As an American, I don't particularly have a dog in the fight. But as a #cjreform guy, I appreciated the version w/ prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, who was on the fiver bf Churchill.
In Texas, Brooke Rollins ran a right wing think tank focused on school vouchers, immigration demagoguery, and abortion. They dabbled in #cjreform bf getting scared off and now oppose it. I have never heard her speak about Ag bf now. She sounds like someone who's never thought about Ag once.
Rollins: "The Biden team basically depopulated about 150m egg laying hens last year, which is the protocol. We're looking at the protocol now to see how to tweak it so that hopefully we don't have to do that moving forward. But we rolled out a 5 point plan a week ago. It includes deregulation."
March 8, 2025 at 9:41 PM
In Texas, Brooke Rollins ran a right wing think tank focused on school vouchers, immigration demagoguery, and abortion. They dabbled in #cjreform bf getting scared off and now oppose it. I have never heard her speak about Ag bf now. She sounds like someone who's never thought about Ag once.
I am ALWAYS going to be following those who write about #FairChanceHiring and #ReEntry and #CJReform — Thanks for posting this @SharlynLauby
November 15, 2024 at 2:42 PM
I am ALWAYS going to be following those who write about #FairChanceHiring and #ReEntry and #CJReform — Thanks for posting this @SharlynLauby
Mass incarceration is no laughing matter. That's why @fji-law.bsky.social takes the moral and economic imperatives of #CJReform seriously on #AprilFoolsDay and beyond. (via @prisonpolicy.bsky.social)
It's April Fools' Day, but prisons and jails are no joke.
So we've pulled together 7 alarming facts about mass incarceration that may sound like hoaxes, but sadly are not 🧵
buff.ly/8rrSJCH
So we've pulled together 7 alarming facts about mass incarceration that may sound like hoaxes, but sadly are not 🧵
buff.ly/8rrSJCH
Seven facts about mass incarceration that sound like April Fools’ Day hoaxes, but aren’t
Fines for suicide attempts, prisons built near toxic wastelands, the overwhelming number of people in the system…it's hard to believe, but it's true.
buff.ly
April 1, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Mass incarceration is no laughing matter. That's why @fji-law.bsky.social takes the moral and economic imperatives of #CJReform seriously on #AprilFoolsDay and beyond. (via @prisonpolicy.bsky.social)
Children in detention increase for third straight year in Massachusetts, separated from loved ones and critical support they need. Our Juvenile Court judges must rise to meet this moment, and reverse this trend. #mapoli #cjreform www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/27/m...
‘This is not a good trajectory’: Juvenile detention reaches highest level since 2018, prompting warning from youth advocates - The Boston Globe
A rise in juvenile detentions threatens to undermine decades of effort to undo the increases seen during the 1990s, when fears of a youth crime wave led to strict penalties for young defendants.
www.bostonglobe.com
April 28, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Children in detention increase for third straight year in Massachusetts, separated from loved ones and critical support they need. Our Juvenile Court judges must rise to meet this moment, and reverse this trend. #mapoli #cjreform www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/27/m...