Legislators Support Bill to Keep Repeat Offenders Behind Bars

State Rep. George Ross (R-Attleboro) and Betty Poirier (R-N. Attleboro) along with 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 incluidng 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 2/3 vote by the parole board.

The legislation will now be sent to Conference Committee.

“I was proud to offer my overwhelming support for ‘Melissa’s Bill’, and was honored to vote with my colleague, and lead sponsor of the bill, Bradford Hill (R-Ipswich),” Ross said in a release. “Brad has worked tirelessly for more than a decade on this piece of legislation, and we in the Republican Caucus are pleased to finally see it passed. With the passing of this bill, I am confident that the citizens of the Bay State will be safer from the threat posed by dangerous, habitual offenders.”

Rep. Jay Barrows (R-Mansfield), Steven Howitt (R-Seekonk) 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.