Proposal for the Formation of an Exploratory Committee
to Organize an Advocacy Group to Replace
Prisoners' Legal Services

To:
Honorable Roderick Ireland
Chief Justice
Supreme Judicial Court
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

We, the prisoners of the Commonwealth, the families of the prisoners of the Commonwealth, and the friends of the prisoners of the Commonwealth, propose that the Supreme Judicial Court form an "Exploratory Committee" to detail the parameters for a new advocacy group which would replace Prisoners' Legal Services (hereafter PLS) as the sanctioned advocacy group for the prisoners of the Commonwealth.

The committee should be comprised of at least twelve (12) members who will reflect the racial, geographical, and demographical make-up of the interested parties. The twelve members will include:

a) An African American female family/friend member,
b) An African American male family/friend member,
c) A Latino female family/friend member,
d) A Latino male family/friend member,
e) A Caucasian female family/friend member,
f) A Caucasian male family/friend member,
g) An Asian female family/friend member,
h) An Asian male family/friend member,
i) An African American prisoner,
j) A Latino prisoner,
k) A Caucasian prisoner,
l) An Asian prisoner

An SJC coordinator appointed by the Chief Justice should act as Chairperson of the committee.

Due to the prisoner members seating on the committee the committee meetings would need to be held at the John Adams Courthouse so that the prisoner members could be transported by the Department of Correction Transportation Division.

The mission of the exploratory committee would be to ascertain how an advocacy group can best serve the interests of the men and women serving prison sentences in the Commonwealth. This new vision for an advocacy group must include ideas for changing the culture that allows abuse and neglect to diminish public safety through ineffective corrections and reintegration endeavors. Progressive and proven methods must by employed which not only promote enhanced public safety but which are also cost effective and transparent.

Members of the legal community in the Commonwealth, Bar members, lawyers association members, lawyers guild members, pro bono advocates, shall be sought to comprise a legal advocacy subcommittee to advise and addist the advocacy group, while working with the exploratory committee in the development phase to promote a sound legal foundation through the organization.

The SJC Coordinator shall be responsible for the implementation of the Honorable Court's expert vision on what the new advocacy group should strive to do as far as the Constitutional protections of the constituency is concerned. The SJC Coordinator shall have such powers as detailed by the Honorable Court.

Wherefore, this proposal is submitted to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court seeking an order that the afore-described "Exploratory Committee" be formed, and that work is begun toward the formation of a new and effective advocacy group for the prisoners of the Commonwealth, their families, and the their friends.

Respectfully submitted,