Currently, when bail is levied in District Court, offenders have the right to appeal to a judge in Superior Court and then to a single Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Commonwealth cannot.
Mayor Sarno, District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and State Representatives Angelo Puppolo initially proposed the legislation in October of 2015. The pending legislation was introduced and continues to be refiled due to the alarming trend of repeat violent criminal offenders being released back in to the community and our neighborhoods with little or no bail. To often, these 1-2% of violent repeat criminal offenders end up back into our neighborhoods and recommit more serious and violent crimes against our residents and businesses.
Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank State Representative Angelo Puppolo for his continued efforts and leadership in refiling this much-needed common sense, public safety and quality of life legislation. The intent of this legislation is to give our Commonwealth and District Attorney’s equal footing when addressing violent repeat criminal offenders as it relates to the ability of appealing bail set in District Court. Too often, we see repeat criminal violent offenders involved and charged with illegal guns, drugs and other violent crimes back on our streets and in our neighborhoods on low or no bail. They have no regards for the conditions in which they are released – GPS ankle bracelet, probation; none of these conditions of their release seems to deter these 1-2% of repeat violent criminal offenders from committing more crimes in our neighborhoods and negatively impacting the public safety and quality of life for our residents and business community.”
State Representative Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. stated, “At the request of Mayor Sarno, I intend to refile this legislation. My colleagues and I will continue to work diligently with the Mayor, Police Superintendent Larry Akers and District Attorney Anthony Gulluni in moving this bill through the legislative process.”
While the proposed legislation seeks to give the Commonwealth the right to appeal bail in District Court, it does not take away any current rights of defendants. It is to be one more tool for the District Attorney’s Office to help keep our communities safe by potentially keeping the 1-2% of repeat violent criminal offenders off our streets and to keep our residents and businesses safe.