parole Archives

A New Book From BINJ Prison Reporter Jean Trounstine

“‘Sounds Like Trouble to Me’ isn’t just about the toll prison life takes on women, it’s about the breaking points in all of our lives, from domestic abuse to an attorney’s rage at injustice”

BINJ ONLINE May 4, 2026

Opinion: The Parole Board Needs Experts On Substance Use, Psychology, And Reentry

BINJ reporter Jean Trounstine’s testimony to the Governor’s Council opposing Parole Board candidate Vincent DeMore

JEAN TROUNSTINE April 27, 2026

Beacon Hill’s Blindest Spot: Can The Governor’s Council Reverse A Century Of Oversight?

A Massachusetts State House briefing sheds light on a crucial body that still operates in darkness, and points out the need for reform—on the ballot and elsewhere

JEAN TROUNSTINE April 14, 2026

Correcting The Record: Mass Parole Rates For Lifers Are Not Really Rising

State officials and news outlets recently reported that parole rates are on the rise, but data reveals that for Massachusetts lifers, the numbers are actually trending downward under new leadership—amidst mounting delays and stalled clemency petitions

JEAN TROUNSTINE February 17, 2026

Parole In Massachusetts: Ignored, Misunderstood, And Misrepresented

How executive indifference, an overburdened board, and a sensationalist media are failing the promise of parole in the commonwealth

JEAN TROUNSTINE January 21, 2026

Parole Board Questions Dying Prisoner On 30-Year-Old Murder, Not His Health

For James Ware, an extremely ill Department of Correction prisoner, a final chance at release after medical parole denial

ELIZA DEWEY September 17, 2025

The Battle Over The Newest Member Of The Massachusetts Parole Board

Will former chief parole supervisor Angelo Gomez help or hurt the overburdened board? Some say he is “the right man” and dedicated to “support not surveillance.” Others question his priorities.

JEAN TROUNSTINE July 31, 2025

Struggles In Reentry: A New Chapter For New Beginnings

Dorchester service provider for recently incarcerated individuals shifts from residential to day programs in the face of funding challenges

JEAN TROUNSTINE April 3, 2025

Organizers, Lawmakers Propose “Clean Slate” For Eligible Past Offenders

Legislation would create “modern, automated system to seal Criminal Offender Record Information” (CORIs), clearing barriers to housing, employment, and more

DANA FORSYTHE January 12, 2025

THE BEST OF BINJ: PRISON & PAROLE REPORTING

Coverage of prisons and parole in Massachusetts from the past decade, including the unparalleled reporting of Jean Trounstine

BINJ ONLINE November 14, 2024