In a gubernatorial election year, the politics of parole takes center stage

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Back in 2024, the Supreme Judicial Court rolled a political hand grenade at Gov. Maura Healey when the justices ruled it was unconstitutional to sentence adults under the age of 21 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The Mattis decision, as it’s called, was retroactive, and while it didn’t automatically grant parole, it did mean for 210 cases, there is the opportunity of parole.

It’s since exploded on the campaign trail. Gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve, as he looks for purchase in a three-way GOP primary, in late December started slagging away at Healey and the Parole Board, with its mix of appointees from Healey and her predecessors, for allowing the release of 39 convicted first degree murderers, while denying parole to 12. (The high court’s role, and support for the ruling from legal organizations like the Boston Bar Association, went unmentioned.)

“Maura Healey’s silence on these releases speaks volumes and shows that she endorses these outrageous releases and sides with criminals,” Shortsleeve said in a statement last week.

Healey spoke up on Wednesday, sending a letter to the Parole Board this week opposing the release of Jose Colon, who was convicted in the 1983 killing of State Police Trooper George Hanna, whose name lives on through annual awards for bravery in public safety. Colon was 20 when he was charged. (For good measure, Healey’s letter was first slipped to the Boston Herald before it was blasted out to the rest of the press.)

When reporters pressed the governor on why she focused on this particular case, Healey said she knows Hanna’s family. “That's part of it. The other thing is this, killing a police officer is a heinous crime,” she said. “It is a heinous crime, and that's why Trooper Hanna's killer should not be released.”

The move underscored the difficulty of running against an incumbent CEO, particularly one who is a former prosecutor: You can complain and criticize, but they can take executive action well ahead of Election Day while touting their public safety bona fides.

I asked if she was trying to avoid a Willie Horton situation, a reference to the 1988 presidential campaign that saw the Bush campaign run a sinister ad against Michael Dukakis claiming the Massachusetts governor “allowed first-degree murderers to have weekend passes from prison.” Healey said she had already answered why her opposition was important to her.

Healey added that she stands by law enforcement employees who risk their lives for public safety. “They deserve our respect. They deserve our honor. They deserve our thanks,” she said. “And there's a process laid out through parole and the courts. That process is being followed. But I thought it was important for me to weigh in on the importance of this issue and why Trooper Hanna's killer should not be released.”

Shortsleeve jumped back in immediately, posting on social media, a favored avenue in the GOP primary. “Apparently those [other] cases were not high profile enough to command her attention,” he said. “Every single one of those victims and their families deserved a governor who would stand up for them too. But she didn’t, and she never will unless the spotlight is on her.”

With that, the ball, or hand grenade, was back in the executive’s court.

Thanks to all who responded to yesterday’s trivia question. Dorchester Heights was indeed where George Washington set up to drive out the British. Here’s another: Who was the former Mass. state rep who played a role in the Willie Horton saga? Hint: He became a Bush White House chief of staff. Roll your answers to: [email protected].

Gov. Healey is considering removing obesity medication coverage from the state employee health plan in her upcoming budget. Cutting treatment would jeopardize progress for thousands and harm workforce health. Urge the Governor to protect access to GLP-1s and treat obesity like any other chronic disease. Use our quick tool to send your message today.

8:30 | Group Insurance Commission meets. The agency is in the early stages of making benefit changes for the next plan year in response to surging costs. Some options involve increasing co-pays for urgent care and emergency room visits, and raising the surviving spouse contribution rate. | More Info

9:30 | Massachusetts Gaming Commission holds a public meeting. The agenda includes a discussion of temporarily closing Raynham Park, an administrative update from the executive director, commissioner updates and a continued discussion on possible updates to sports wagering quarterly reports schedule. Commissioners also expect to enter into an executive session to discuss litigation strategy related to the case Robinhood Derivatives, LLC v. Andrea Campbell et al. | Agenda and access

10:00 | The Parole Board is scheduled to hold an initial parole hearing for Jose Colon, a man convicted of the 1983 murder of State Trooper George Hanna. | Parole Board HQ, 12 Mercer Road, Natick

1:00 | The Senate meets in a formal session with plans to take up six bills. Four of the bills address property taxes, including Sens. Brownsberger and Collins bills that take various approaches to tax relief. The Senate is expected to take up other bills, including one (S 2898) of which would close the existing eight-month gap in financial reporting requirements for ballot question committees, according to the Ways and Means Committee. | Senate Chamber, State House, Boston

The Teamsters local based in Dorchester, No. 122, this week endorsed Sen. Ed Markey for reelection as the longtime incumbent seeks to fend off a Democratic primary challenge from Rep. Seth Moulton.

“As an early supporter of the original Butch Lewis Act of 2017 and then the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021, which helped save the pensions of over 1.2 million union workers and retirees across America, Sen. Markey knows that a pension is a promise and that all workers deserve to retire with dignity and security,” the union wrote in a letter released to MASSterList.

In 2024, the local notably broke from the national organization, led by Medford native Sean O’Brien, endorsing Kamala Harris over Donald Trump. O’Brien spoke at the Republican National Convention that year and declined to issue an endorsement.

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MARIANO RECOVERING: House Speaker Ron Mariano was injured in a fall in early January, but a doctor has cleared him to continue work. The 79-year-old lawmaker has been working remotely and plans to participate in meetings next week on energy affordability legislation. – State House News Service

BRACING FOR ICE STORMFRONT:  Massachusetts city and state officials are preparing for a surge of ICE activity as public support for the agency continues to fall in polling, and popular podcaster Joe Rogan likened ICE to the Gestapo. – Boston Herald

CONSENSUS REVENUE: Massachusetts will collect an estimated $44.9 billion in tax revenue, a 2.9% increase, according to new figures jointly released by the budget chiefs in the Healey administration and the House and Senate. – State House News Service

NO PRE-APPROVAL NEEDED: New state regulations allow doctors to skip pre-approval from a patient’s insurer when providing multiple types of care, such as chronic disease management, reproductive and maternity care, physical therapy and substance abuse treatment, among others. – GBH News

VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Massachusetts plans to ignore guidance from RFK Jr. and stay with the long-running schedule for childhood vaccines, Gov. Maura Healey said. – MassLive

GRANT FUNDING WHIPLASH: The Trump administration terminated grants for substance abuse and mental health services on Tuesday, and then an administration official told NPR Wednesday night that the cuts would be reserved. – WBUR

CHARLTON GUN VOTE: Charlton residents voted to exempt the town from a state law prohibiting firearms in municipal buildings such as libraries and police stations. – Worcester Telegram

PLYMOUTH RETREAT: Members of Plymouth’s select board backed away from a proposal with $2.5 million in spending cuts, instead recommending cuts totalling five figures. – Plymouth Independent

Boston City Hall and Pioneer Institute group had back-and-forth over commercial taxes

Giant googly eyes and octopus arms mark new downtown Boston art exhibit

Former Stoughton deputy chief appeals law enforcement de-certification

Two AI startups establish beachheads in Boston

E-commerce giant Amazon signs big lease in Uxbridge

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