It happened again.
The State Legislature has sent to committee a measure requested by Springfield Mayor Dom Sarno on bail reform.
The measure, in its simplest terms, would allow prosecutors the same ability to appeal against low bails as defendants have to appeal high ones.
The mayor says that the bill would take no rights away from defendants—instead just giving DA’s another tool to keep violent repeat offenders off the streets.
“I will continue to fight for our residents and business community against these violent repeat criminal offenders that continue to terrorize our neighborhoods and streets. There are numerous examples of dangerous situations that could have been prevented if repeat violent criminal offenders had been locked up. With our brave and dedicated Springfield Police Officer Nestor Santos, for example, who was shot at and lost sight in one eye due to the criminal actions of a repeat offender who should never have been out on the streets based on his prior record. It’s ironic that this important bail reform has been shelved and sent to study as a repeat violent offender goes to trial in the coming weeks for shooting a brave, dedicated, and decorated officer in the face and the leg, leaving him blind, also the injuries to two Mass DOT workers and others who were subject to these wanton criminal acts. What about the rights of victims and their families?”
The bill was drafted by Hampden County DA Anthony Gulluni - Mayor Sarno, and State Reps Angelo Puppolo and Brian Ashe. This is the 11 th year in a row that the bill has been sent to committee.
(Photo: John Baibak, WHYN News)