Legislators Support Bill to Keep Repeat Offenders Behind Bars

State Rep. George Ross (R-Attleboro) and Betty Poirier (R-N. Attleboro) and several state representatives voted in favor to pass a bill that would keep repeat offenders in jail. 

House Bill 3811, referred to as Melissa's Bill, was filed in 2000 in memory of Melissa Gosule, a teacher who was murdered by a repeat offender who served less than two years in prison for a total of 27 convictions.

House Republicans offered several amendments to the bill, includng mandatory written notification of parole hearings to the Attorney General, District Attorney, local Chief of Police, and the victim for someone who has been convicted of a violent crime who has served more than five years in prison; and a requirement that parole for life sentences can only be granted by a two-thirds vote by the parole board.

The legislation will now be sent to Conference Committee.

“Too often criminals are treated as victims and not criminals. This long overdue legislation will protect law-abiding citizens from heartaches like those suffered by the Gosule and McGuire families. I was proud to be part of this legislation,” Rep. Steven Howitt (R-Seekonk) said.

Howitt, Rep. Jay Barrows (R-Mansfield), and Dan Winslow (R-Norfolk) joined lead sponsor Bradford Hill (R-Ipswich), House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and the entire House Republican Caucus in supporting the legislation.