government Archives

PROFITS OVER PRISONERS?

While Massachusetts seeks a contractor to provide healthcare services for people in state prisons, advocates are pushing for stronger oversight of private operators as incarcerated people describe “deplorable” neglect and mistreatment By Dan Atkinson and Jean Trounstine For the past six years, Massachusetts has paid more than half-a-billion dollars to

DAN ATKINSON & JEAN TROUNSTINE January 12, 2024

WITH MORE DELAYS FOR NEW EQUIPMENT, MBTA PUTS BAND-AIDS ON OLD TRAINS

“Sole-source procurement is not working for the T, it’s costing a lot of money and problems beyond the Red Line.”

DAN ATKINSON November 27, 2023

LAWMAKERS QUESTION MASS PAROLE PROCESS. CAN THEY IMPROVE THE SYSTEM?

Concerned about the “onerous conditions of parole” and longstanding cruel procedures, legislators and reform advocates push major legislative and cultural changes.

JEAN TROUNSTINE November 6, 2023

THE MBTA’S REVOLVING DOOR

The MBTA pays former T workers millions to fix longstanding problems, but transit advocates say inside hiring isn’t getting riders or the system where they need to go.

DAN ATKINSON October 4, 2023

DOES A NEW GOVERNOR SIGNAL A NEW DIRECTION FOR THE MASS PAROLE BOARD?

“I know that if Sarah Coughlin is appointed to the Parole Board, she will be the people’s Parole Board member.”

JEAN TROUNSTINE September 18, 2023

CLOAK & RECORDS: MORE POST COMMISSION OMISSIONS

“If the same police departments issue press releases after arrests—not convictions—if they think that doing that makes the community safer, then why redact information about alleged abuses from police officers themselves?”

DAN ATKINSON September 14, 2023

TRAGEDY STILL LINGERS OVER LAWRENCE

A Merrimack Valley Natural Gas Explosion Time Capsule: Putting the extensive damage done in focus five years after a preventable fatal disaster disrupted northeast Massachusetts

CHRIS FARAONE September 13, 2023

IMPUNITY SERVICE

The state’s police oversight commission only publicizes cops who have been punished, but there’s a back door to discovering the dirty details of departments that let problematic officers linger “The public deserves to see allegations of police misconduct in real time, because officers have tremendous powers and responsibilities in our

DAN ATKINSON June 28, 2023

COORDINATED RESPONSE

Greater Boston bars and venues are grappling with a rise in involuntary drugged drinks, but procedures for addressing future incidents are in sight “When you raise awareness, if you even help prevent one person from getting drugged, then that’s a good thing.” Amidst a rash of incidents in which people

KENDALL POLIDORI May 24, 2023

“STATE OF GOOD REPAIR”

With the MBTA still very broken, agency lacks clarity in communications with contractors, commuters “We shouldn’t have to be backtracking and deciphering contract packages to figure out when the T will get work done.” The MBTA is preparing to pay contractors $72 million over the next two years to repair

DAN ATKINSON April 20, 2023