JP Progressives next political forums will look at criminal justice with separate forums for Suffolk County District Attorney and Suffolk Country Sheriff on July 13. The Suffolk County District Attorney's forum will be with current DA Kevin Hayden, who became DA after Rachael Rollins was appointed U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, and District 5 City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo. The sheriff's race will be with incumbent Steve Tompkins and Sandy Zamor Calixte. The forum will be on Wednesday, July 13 at 7 pm via zoom. Please register here to attend the forum online.
A level 3 sex offender who allegedly exposed himself in the Forest Hills area on July 18, and had earlier tried to rape and kidnap a different victim earlier that day, was arraigned in two district courts on Tuesday for multiple charges. Kennedy Colson, 29, who provided the address of a Boston homeless shelter during booking, was arraigned on Tuesday at Roxbury Municipal Court and the West Roxbury Municipal Court for alleged crimes that all occurred on July 18, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. He was arraigned in Roxbury Municipal Court on charges of assault with intent to rape, kidnapping, open and gross lewdness, assault and battery, and trespassing. He allegedly assaulted a victim shortly before 1 pm at a Northeastern University building. He was held without bail pending a July 26 dangerousness hearing under Chapter 276, Section 58A, of the Massachusetts General Laws.
History was made is often a cliche description of many things. History is always being made. But after being sworn in as the District Attorney for Suffolk County, Rachael Rollins truly made history -- by being the first woman person of color to be a DA in Massachusetts -- and she's also the first woman to be our county's DA. “We have a big job ahead of us – changing perceptions and expectations of how the criminal justice system can best serve the community, and how necessary other disciplines are to our shared success,” said Rollins at the ceremony held on Wednesday at the Roxbury Community College. “Professionals in education, medical and mental health, social services, housing, and many other fields all play a part in public safety and we need their collaboration as surely as we need police and prosecutors.
Three defendants were acquitted Tuesday on murder charges of a 28-year-old man who was shot dead while exiting the 7-Eleven on August 27, 2016. Amos Carrasquillo, 30, his girlfriend, Amanda Algarin, 28, and their associate, Julio Pizarro, 45, were acquitted after 11 days of deliberations, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office. The DA's office said the prosecution was confident the jury fully and fairly weighed the evidence that they were provided. Carrasquillo was charged with first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm in December 2016, after initially being arrested on an unrelated federal probation warrant. In 2016, Assistant DA Julie Higgins of the DA's Homicide Unit, said Carrasquillo and Kelly were known to each other, and Carrasquillo had allegedly "shown signs of hostility toward the victim in the days preceding the Aug.
The JP Progressives are hosting their annual fundraiser on Dec. 12 and it's going to feature several newly elected sheroes. "Our work this year was extensive, and we are proud of both the results that we helped achieve and the effort we put forward. We gathered signatures for ballot questions and candidates. We organized phone and text banks to elect progressive candidates to state and federal offices across the nation.
For the first time in decades there is no incumbent in the Suffolk County District Attorney race. There are five candidates in the Democratic Party primary on Tuesday. Who has your vote? The hottest topic in this year's race was criminal justice reform and discussion was often about a criminal justice reform bill signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker in April. State Rep. Evandro Carvalho (5th-Suffolk) was going to run for an open state senate seat, but changed his mind to run for the DA position once he heard that current DA Dan Conley wasn't seeking reelection.
Please join host Mimi and Reuben for a Jamaica Plain Meet and Greet for Shannon McAuliffe for DA! Shannon McAuliffe is a former public defender and director of the nonprofit, Roca. Fighting injustice isn't just what Shannon does, it's who she is. Shannon is endorsed by Suffolk County Sheriff, Steven Tompkins, and has been committed to bold progressive change in our criminal justice system for over 25 years. This will be an outdoor garden event at Mimi and Reuben's home.
Prosecutors are so conditioned to win at all costs that they have lost their nerve to test the waters in the name of justice. Currently, when corporate executives steal we use civil statutes to punish with fines. These fines help but often employers treat them as a price of doing business, and go right back to the same behavior. They need to face consequences they fear, not ones that they can afford. As a progressive, I believe we need to criminally prosecute heads of companies, contractors, and subcontractors who willingly break the law for pure greed.
Jamaica Plain News easily could've asked our own questions to the five candidates vying to be the next Suffolk County District Attorney. But instead we asked four elected officials to provide questions. Their questions are based on their own experiences, personal opinions and elected positions: State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley, Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins and At-Large Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu. Candidates were provided the questions and asked to provide written answers. The five candidates are Evandro Carvalho, Linda Champion, Greg Henning, Shannon McAuliffe and Rachael Rollins.
Shaun Harrison was sentenced to serve between 23 and 26 years for trying to kill an English High School student he was supposed to be a mentor to -- and instead recruited him to sell marijuana in 2015. On May 31st, Harrison was found guilty of armed assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance, and two counts each of unlawful possession of a rifle or shotgun and unlawful possession of ammunition. One day later, Judge Christopher Muse handed down a sentence of 23 to 26 years in state prison followed by five years of probation, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office. As the dean of students at English High School, Shaun Harrison ingratiated himself to an at-risk 17-year-old in 2015. When the teenager's drug sales were lackluster Harrison tried murdering the student. The victim's aunt spoke before Harrison was sentenced.
