Prisoners' Legal Services of Massachusetts

A proposed ICE detainer bill in MA would violate due process rights by keeping people locked up without legal authority. The MA supreme court ruled against this practice in 2017 for a reason -- it's unconstitutional. nbcboston.com/news/local/mas…

ICE detention isn't broken - it's working exactly as designed. PLS Staff Attorney Leah Hastings spoke with @WorldPeaceFdtn about the systemic abuses at Plymouth County, where even basic necessities are withheld to coerce deportation. worldpeacefoundation.org/blog/new-year-…

Older people are locked up at a record rate in the US. Keep in mind that rates of medical problems are always *much* higher for older people. Aging in prison is horrific. Is this how the government thinks aging populations should be treated? How does this make communities safer?

Yesterday, PLS' Race Equity in Corrections Initiative held a rally at the State House in support of legislation creating meaningful oversight of Massachusetts carceral facilities. Learn more about the bill here: plsma.org/reicibill

Tomorrow, we hope you can join @EqualJusticeMA's #walktothehill to ensure there's funding for services for low-income residents facing civil legal problems through @CivilLegalAid. This funding is critical to organizations like ours. Register here: equaljusticecoalition.org/walk/

📅 Save the date! On February 20, 2025, Unlock the Box and Human Rights Watch @hrw are hosting a virtual event to expose the human rights crisis occurring on U.S. soil every day. Solitary confinement is torture and leaves a devastating impact on individuals, communities, and our justice system. You don't want to miss this insightful and powerful conversation between lawyers, human rights experts, activists, and solitary survivors. 💡 Click here bit.ly/40DHG5q to get notified about the event! 👀 Stay tuned for our speaker lineup announcement... 🎨 Artwork credit: 'Solitary Confinement' by anonymous person in solitary. From 'Drawing Alone: Making Art in Solitary Confinement' and 'Art and Art Therapy with the Imprisoned: Recreating Identity.'

Please join us tomorrow for the PLS Race Equity in Corrections Initiative's rally at the State House. We need your help advocating for legislation creating meaningful oversight of Massachusetts carceral facilities. Register here: plsma.org/reicievent

Congrats to the 2,500 people on this list and their loved ones! Thank you, @POTUS, for hearing advocates like FAMM and our allies, for recognizing the critical need for #SecondChances, and for using your powers to make them possible! whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…

Join us on Monday Feb 10, 7-8:30pm for the Keeping Families Connected campaign Kick Off! KFC is launching our campaign to improve visitation for people who are incarcerated. We'll connect with others, share updates, and take action together. bit.ly/visitation2025

On 1/23, join @EqualJusticeMA's #walktothehill to ensure there's funding for services for low-income residents facing civil legal problems through @CivilLegalAid. PLS Attorney Jesse White walks to help make MA better for everyone and you can too! equaljusticecoalition.org/walk/

The Keeping Families Connected coalition is hosting an online community meeting about legislation to improve visitation with people behind bars. We'll talk about the bill, the road to improving visitation, and what we can do now. Register here: bit.ly/visitation2025

Every year, @EqualJusticeMA organizes a #walktothehill to help ensure that there's funding for services for low-income residents who are facing civil legal problems through @CivilLegalAid. Register to participate here: equaljusticecoalition.org/walk/

Please spread far and wide A NEW GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ALREADY MADE HISTORY BUT WILL IT BRING CHANGE TO MASSACHUSETTS? #mapoli @BINJreports @Fara1 cc:@AbenedettiCPCS @CPCSnews @PLSMA @BobMcGovernJr @JonathanCohn @ProgressiveMass @PeoplesParity horizonmass.news/2025/01/13/a-n…

Leah Hastings (@PLSMA Staff Attorney), Hamza Berrios (Empowering Descendant Communities), and B. Arneson shed light on the harsh realities of ICE detention at Plymouth County Correctional Facility, MA. Read more here: worldpeacefoundation.org/blog/new-year-…

Are you an attorney interested in helping incarcerated women seek clemency? On January 30th, @WBFofMA is hosting a free 2-hour training on conducting interviews, preparing clemency petitions, and representing clients at hearings. Register here: wbawbf.org/wbf/events/wbf…

ICE detention isn't broken - it's working exactly as designed. PLS Staff Attorney Leah Hastings speaks with @WorldPeaceFdtn about the systemic abuses at Plymouth County, where even basic necessities are withheld to coerce deportation. worldpeacefoundation.org/blog/new-year-…

Massachusetts passed a law curtailing solitary confinement in 2018, but people in prolonged isolation say the practice continues under different names. @LVikkiml 's article for @boltsmag explores this issue and the fight for meaningful change. boltsmag.org/massachusetts-…

Citing 2 decades-worth of complaints about overcrowding, inadequate health care & other mistreatment, a recent report alleges Plymouth County Correctional Facility staffers engaged in a pattern of abuse against immigrant detainees. wbur.org/news/2024/09/1…

“No one expects to see so many elderly people inside, but in my prison, as well as prisons across the country, there are old or aging people as far as the eye can see.” prisonjournalismproject.org/2023/08/20/okl…

Addiction is a disease & MA is the only state that still involuntarily commits men to jail for treatment even if they haven't committed a crime. Data shows that the risk of overdose is twice as high after involuntary commitment vs voluntary treatment. bostonglobe.com/2024/12/30/opi…